Life is sweet for a gardener who won a £500 prize for his outstanding sweet peas.

Keith Thompson, of Guilden Morden, secured first prize in Mr Fothergill’s national sweet pea competition, which attracted entries from as far afield as Ross-shire, Co Tyrone and Cornwall.

Having originally grown sweet peas as a schoolboy, presenting his mother with the first bunch he ever cut, Mr Thomspon took up the hobby again 15 years ago. This year he has grown 18 varieties in his garden.

He said: “I put my success down to the incorporation of plenty of farmyard manure into the soil and the addition of blood, fish and bone fertiliser just prior to setting out the young plants.”

Pupils from Roman Way First School in Royston won the £300 second prize in the schools’ on-the-day category.