Organisers of the combined Uckfield and District Horticultural Society and Allotment Holders Summer Show on Saturday discovered entries as high as last year which itself had been 20 per cent up on 2006.

Among the show's stars were large-flowered dahlias and chrysanthemums which brightened up an overcast day. The air was perfumed too with sweet peas and roses.

Vegetable exhibits were up with more entries in the multiple vegetable classes – trugs of vegetables, and the less grown capsicums (green peppers).

There were very large marrows, enormous onions, long beans and distorted vegetables. Bearing in mind the weather, the judges commented on the very high standard of flowers and produce.

They also remarked on how difficult it was to choose the prize winners, due to the fierce competition particularly in the domestic sections. Photography and domestic sections were well supported with photographs, crafts and cakes.

There was also an increase in children's entries with imaginative, vegetable animals, particularly Jamie Todman's courgette, bean and clove animal.

Norman Tebbutt, Allotment Holders Association president and Elizabeth Green, Horticultural Society president presented the prizes. Uckfield Town Council gave prizes for the best kept allotments, winners of each of the five allotment areas in Uckfield received a small shield and a certificate and there was a large shield for the overall winner.

Uckfield mayor Cllr Louise Eastwood said: 'I am greatly impressed by what I have seen today and I appreciated the effort that went in to achieve such a high standard of entries.'

The next monthly meeting is on Monday, September 8 at 7.30am in The Ashdown Room, Uckfield Civic Centre where there will be a talk and slide show by John Buckingham on the Galapagos and Seychelles.

All are welcome. It costs visitors £1 to get in.