GREEN fingered Bradford residents are being challenged to grow an award-winning plug plant ahead of the town’s annual flower show in September.

The popular event, now in its sixth year, will see entrants compete in 93 categories including the hottest chilli and the most amusing vegetable.

Also making a return is the children’s competition where kids under 16 can enter an animal made from vegetables or, a new edition to this year, the most amount of objects, beginning with the letter ‘B’, in a matchbox.

Avonfield garden centre, in Hilperton along with J Alex Brown Hardware on Silver Street will be giving away plug plants in the next two months as part of the Grow it On plug plant challenge.

The idea was created three years ago by Avonfield Gardens and Bradford on Avon town council in hope of getting the whole town and surrounding villages involved in the show.

Nicola Reynolds, a committee member of the flower show, said: “People can go and get a plug plant for free to grow at home. Come September we will then be able to see who has grown the biggest and best plant.”

The committee is also urging more entrants in the home-brewed beer and cider category after numbers have decreased in the last couple of years.

Plug plants must be collected by Friday, July 3. The flower show takes place in St Margaret’s Hall on Sunday, September 13, at 2-4pm.