PREPARATIONS are under way for a floral flourish that will mark 250 years of Catholic mission at Minsteracres.

The Stocksfield South of Tyne Flower Club is working with the Kiln Pit Hill retreat’s own flower ladies to stage Floral Splendour , a blaze of blooms throughout the manor house itself and the linked St Elizabeth’s Church.

Founder member of the club and former chairman Vivien Bolton is masterminding the festival that will be similar to the one she directed at Minsteracres in 2004 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of St Elizabeth’s.

“That time round there was a musical theme and we borrowed mannequins in ball gowns from Fenwick’s in Newcastle,” she said. “Unfortunately they came without heads, so we had to improvise.

“We covered oasis with gypsophilia and put it where the heads should have been – it was actually very effective!”

The festival at Minsteracres is from 10am-5pm on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1 and from 2pm-5pm on Sunday, August 2.