Fresh fruit and vegetables were donated to the foodbank following the inaugural Loughton Horticultural Show.

Green fingered residents trooped along to Murray Hall in Borders Lane on September 1 with their vegetables, fruit, cut flowers, flower arrangements, jams, preserves, chutneys and sponge cakes.

Through entrance fees, plant sale, the raffle and donations, £200 was given to the Loughton Town Mayor’s chosen charity, the Epping Forest Food Bank.

Entrants also donated their fresh fruit and vegetables to the Foodbank at the end of the show.

Pippa Bryce, administrative officer at Loughton Town Council, said: "Our thanks go to all the volunteers, judges and entrants for their valuable contributions and support.

"It was quite an effort to bring to fruition especially when local horticultural societies are struggling.

"We particularly thank Pat and John from the Buckhurst Hill Horticultural Society for their advice and wish them well in their show this Saturday 8 September.

"We also thank Matthews Plants for providing a selection of plants to sell for charity and Grangewood Investments, owner of The Crate business centre in the Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate, for their generous donation."

The show was followed by the presentation of the 2018 Best Allotment awards by deputy town mayor, Stella Murphy.

Lesley Ford from the Roding Road Allotments came away as the overall winner for what judges from the National Allotment Society called 'an extremely attractive plot, with a great variety of features and produce.'

The Best Newcomer Award went to Amy Tang, also from the Roding Road site.

Her plot exhibited excellent weed control and good use of the whole area.

Brian Smith from the Loughton Potato Ground and Theresa Witham from the Willingale Road Allotments received site winner awards.

Keith Thornhill, from the Loughton Potato Ground, and Louis Le Grange, from Willingale Road Allotments also received Best site Newcomer awards.