Sandwiches, stunning blooms and acres of colour greeted judges who descended on Kensington and Chelsea to inspect borough gardens.

Last Monday, Royal Horticultural Society chairman Roger Burnett was among the green-fingered experts who travelled around the Royal Borough.

The borough hopes to be named number one in the small city category of the national In Bloom gardening competition.

Councillors John Corbet-Singleton and Tony Holt joined Kensington and Chelsea In Bloom coordinator Abi Lea to show the bigwigs around the borough's most impressive spots.

The results will be announced next month. Underground stations have also been judged for the annual Underground in Bloom contest. South Kensington, Goldhawk Road, Parsons Green, Putney Bridge, West Kensington and Sloane Square station's are bidding to be crowned the greenest station.