Green-fingered experts at Southend Council have proved their horticultural skills by winning a bronze medal in the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show.

It is the fifth prize the town has won in five years of entering the prestigious floral competition.

Assistant director of leisure services Nick Harris said: "We are delighted to win this award for our exhibit.

"I would like to thank all the staff for their hard work in putting such an excellent display together."

Southend's entry - sponsored by the Tree Fella Ltd - includes a reconstruction of the garden of horticultural expert Ellen Willmott at Warley Place, Brentwood.

The exhibit will stay on display at Chelsea in the Grand Marquee until Friday. Once the show is finished, the garden will be re-created on the pier by the end of June.

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