Flower power has won through for a Billericay florist who has been named designer of the year in a national competition.

Owner of First Leaf Florists in High Street, Billericay, Karen Sansom scooped the prize at the annual Flowergram awards held at the Hilton Hotel in Worcestershire.

Karen, 28, had set her sights on the title after finishing second last year and was delighted to win the competition, the trophy and £250 in prize money.

She said: "We were given the task of creating a set using flowers on a Hollywood theme and we chose Frankenstein.

"We had some really different ideas and we were sure no-one else would chose Frankenstein as a theme so we went for it.

"Among the set Karen and her house florist, Susan Keeble, designed was Doctor Frankenstein's briefcase and the table which he created his monster on.

Karen, a florist for 11 years said: "The table took absolutely ages.

"It had a wooden base and then we covered it with flowers and put on the leather straps which would have held the monster down.

"It really is an honour to be commended for my workmanship and have taken great pleasure in displaying my design and the trophy in the shop."

The contest was judged by president of the Society of Floristry, Angela Turner, who said: "Judging was extremely difficult with so many stunning entries."

Published Wednesday November 6, 2002

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