KEEN amateur gardeners from Worcestershire have won a silver gilt medal at the Chelsea Flower Show.

The county's group of the Hardy Plant Society (HPS) was chosen to fly the flag for hardy perennials by the national society, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

The garden show, organised by the Royal Horticultural Society, has been taking place this week in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

The HPS stand, which was called 60 plants for 60 years, is the first, constantly-rotating stand in the history of the event, and displays 60 different cultivars.

The high tech innovation allowed visitors to be able to access the names of plants and their growing requirements, using the QR code scanner on their phones as it rotated on a stand, designed and built by freelance engineer Caleb Whitcombe.

John McGhee, the leader of Worcestershire Group committee for RHS Chelsea 2017, said “We’re delighted to be involved in this gardening adventure. It is a really great opportunity and one we’re excited about.

"We're thrilled to get such a brilliant medal - and, from the judges' comments, we were not far off a gold.

"It's been hectic and stressful at times but it's been fantastic.

"The BBC has been to film us a month ago.

"We’ve had more than 300 plants growing for over a year in anticipation of being invited to take part. More have been added as the Chelsea 2017 date approached.

"They were accommodated at the Offenham nursery of Cotswold Garden Flowers.”

Worcestershire Group members have provided plants for the stand and helped to care for them on a regular basis at Offenham. Many of the plants will be sold at the Group’s June sale in Peopleton, Worcestershire.

Group member and stand designer Linda Marsh said: “Strong colour is the theme of our plants, chosen because they are in flower at the time, not forced or held back.

"The design means visitors can stand still as plants rotate past them. They’ll be seen from a number of angles, interacting with other plants as they move.

"We want to show that we are moving with the times, encouraging new members so that we can grow and prosper.”