KEEN gardeners took up their spades and trowels and dug in for Culcheth Horticultural Society's Golden Jubilee Autumn Show.

Trophies, cups and medals were given to the best entrants in classes ranging from chrysanthemums to fruit and vegetables at the show held at Newchurch Parish Hall, Culcheth on Saturday.

Show secretary Frank Stephenson said: "We had more entrants this year than we have had for the past three years, 340 from 44 exhibitors."

He added that the show was such a success partly because a number of entrants came from Whiston Horticultural Society.

Altogether there were 79 classes in the show, including those for dahlias, chrysanthemums, fruit and vegetables and standard classes. There was even a children's class.

Competitors took exhibits from their gardens and allotments to be judged in the hall where the Rev Beryl Smart presented the prizes. RESULTS Chrysanthemums: National Chrysanthemum Society bronze medal for best large bloom, Mr R Armstrong; bronze medal for best medium bloom, Mr W Carter; Bill Hornby Cup for best bloom, R F Halpin Cup for best chrysanthemum exhibit and T Harris Cup for most points in chrysanthemum class, Mr R Armstrong

Dahlias: Perpetual Challenge Cup for best dahlia exhibit, National Dahlia Society silver medal for the best exhibit in dahlia classes and National Dahlia Society bronze medal for the best bloom, Mr W Carter

C H Wing Cup formost points in flowering pot plants, Mr J Heywood.

McDonald Cup for best exhibit in floral art classes, Mrs D Hogston.

Floral Art cup for the winner of the miniature classes, Mrs M Wifzowaty.

Society Challenge Trophy for the most points in the cookery classes, Mrs D Hogston

Frank Hockenhull Cup for most points in the vegetable classes, National Vegetable Society silver medal for the best exhibit in the vegetable classes, Goff Howard Plate for most points in the tomato classes, Allotment Shield for the heaviest onion and the Barry Heden Cup for the winner of three onion classes, Mr A Lyon

Garden News top tray awards: 1st Mr A Lyon, 2nd Mr R Armstrong, 3rd Mr R Hodson.

Mee Brow Tenants Association Cup for the most points in the junior classes, Mr R Atherton.

Presidents Prize for the best exhibit on show, Mr B Wood.

Banksian Medal for the most points in horticultural classes, Mr R Armstrong.