WORCESTER'S Steve Jones is the man to beat according to the National Begonia Society after he secured five first and two seconds at this year's Shrewsbury's Flower Show.

Mr Jones, from Bevere Close, also retained his seven-pot British Begonia Champion title after winning it three times in a row.

He has been growing begonias for the past 10 years and took around 36 pots with him to the show where he entered a variety of begonia classes.

The huge blooms are grown from five-year-old tubers which he keeps in individual 10-inch pots and overwinters in his garage.

"I was really pleased with the results. I took 36 pots along because there were several classes to enter, some seven pot, some three pot and

some one pot and I did really well.

"I grow the giant flowered varieties. They are lovely flowers which last a long time."