A WEEK-LONG flower show has made a return to Southend’s Priory Park for the first time in 20 years.

Held at the Priory Historic House, the Southend Garden and Flower Festival is a part of the borough’s 125th anniversary celebrations, which last until Thursday.

The garden show is also running a special gardening and vegetable competition today.

Entrants can compete for the best flower, best basket of vegetables, funniest misshapen vegetable and best floral arrangement.

The centrepiece of the event, which is hosted by Southend Council’s parks and landscape team, is a garden show celebrating the borough and Priory Park.

Councillor Ann Holland, responsible for culture, tourism and the economy, said: “I’m delighted to see the return of this wonderful horticultural event as we celebrate 125 years since the incorporation of the borough of Southend and 100 years since Priory Park was gifted to the people of Southend by local jeweller and philanthropist, R A Jones.

“We’re working closely with local allotment societies and gardening enthusiasts to bring this event forward but are still inviting entries from local gardeners to take part in the gardening competition.”

The garden show runs from 11am until 5pm today, and 10am until 5pm daily throughout the festival.

Visit: www.facebook.com/events/751373878399773.