THERE is a serious risk that the string of gold awards achieved by Ludlow in Heart of England in Bloom will come to an end.

This is not a reflection on the ability of gardeners in the town but with judging due to take place during the summer it is highly likely that the event will be abandoned for this year.

This would come as a bitter disappointment for the team in the town that had been planning that the 2020 bid would be based upon the sailing of the Mayflower to the new world 400 years ago.

The ship is believed to have been carrying people from Ludlow to start a new life on the other side of the Atlantic. Ludlow had achieved gold for every year in the last decade.