YET again a runaway success, in spite of the threat of heavy downpours of rain, as the RHS Malvern Autumn Show still drew in the crowds over its two days with the final figure around the anticipated 65,000.

Run in association with Westons Cider Mill, last weekend's show was a two-day celebration right in the heart of the beautiful British countryside and during harvest time which saw the event brimming with special guests, giant vegetables, stunning floral displays and a host of family entertainment.

Local growers have their work cut out if they want to join the challenge for growing some of the country’s heaviest, largest and longest vegetables.

Many of the CANNA UK Giant Vegetable Championship prizes went to growers from Newark, Wareham, Newport, Mansfield and Truro with their whoppers - in terms of heaviest and longest - having the scales groaning and tape measures totally extended.

A lack of success to for local growers from Bromsgrove, Droitwich or Redditch in the Floral Art and Flower Show, although Worcester entries did figure fairly prominently.

Meanwhile, in a bid to help tackle poverty, one of the biggest ever food bank donations in the country was held at the show when it became the first of its kind to host a huge harvest festival.

Run together with the charity, The Trussell Trust, the Three Counties saw its groundbreaking initiative over the weekend inundated with tins and packets of food from show-goers keen to help the Three Counties give back to its community.

Diana Walton, Head of Shows at the Three Counties Showground, said: “The idea of getting back to the real meaning of harvest, community and giving also helped mark what is our 25th edition of the show and what a way to mark the occasion than feeling at one with the communities that surround us.”

The show had around 4,700 entries to the big veg event with 1,800 grown to show and 600 giant vegetables, also nine of the floral exhibitions at the show have been supporting the event since it was first launched a quarter of a century ago.

Other interesting facts about the show revealed that 980 bottle of gin were in the Malvern Gin Show, 720 sunflowers were used in the on-site restaurants, just over 200 dogs competed in the Top Dogs Arena and the poles used in the pole climbing championship are roughly 85 years old - almost the same age as the UK’s oldest pole climber who is 80 and can climb a pole 82ft in height in just 30 seconds!

Show dates for next year have the RHS Malvern Spring Festival from May 7 to 10, and the Autumn Show on the weekend of September 26 and 27, while in between is the Royal Three Counties Show from June 12 to 14.