A SPECTACULAR array of colour could be seen in Prudhoe over the weekend as gardening, baking and handicraft enthusiasts brought out their goods for the annual town show.

The horticultural show, now in its 53rd year and organised by Prudhoe Gardeners’ Association, has become a major event in the town’s calendar and attracts a large number of entrants from outside as well as within Prudhoe.

A particularly strong handicrafts section included a tray of knitted fruit, vegetables and fowers by Sharron Hirst, for which she won the Hexham Courant Tynedale trophy for best exhibit in handicrafts.

And the junior classes were also said to be superb, with the overall best exhibit being a giant Moby Dick whale made of out enormous courgettes, complete with a cauliflower water spout.

The two day event, which ran over Saturday and Sunday, was held at Prudhoe United Services Club.

The high standards meant that the auction on Sunday afternoon, run by Julia Cooper, became something of a bidding war.

The baking section included a tasty selection of cakes, breads, tarts, jams, pickles and chutneys, while the handicrafts section attracted a lot of first-time entrants encouraged by Pauline Edwards, of the town’s Ready Steady Knit group, who picked up first prize in the crochet category.

It was an especially good year for Victoria Nicholson. who won the Prudhoe Town Show Cup for most points in the show, and Harry Mitchell, who won the highly competitive heaviest onion category.

The event was well supported by the local community and attracted sponsors such as Salem Tubes, SCA hygiene, Thompsons of Prudhoe, Witton Ness, GMS and The Stationery Shop, with many of the shops in Prudhoe donating raffle prizes.