The district’s most green-fingered residents can now sign up to this year’s Loughton Horticultural Festival.

Categories for the best vegetables, fruit, cut flowers and flower arrangements, jams, preserves, chutneys, and cakes will go head to head this September.

Kids can also enter a selection of competitions including baking, decorating biscuits, creating “a scarecrow suitable for a window box” and the funniest shaped fruit or vegetables.

Entries are welcome from anyone who lives, works or goes to school or college in Loughton, all entrants must be submitted Friday, September 6, 12pm.

Admission to the show is free and refreshments will be available with an opportunity to purchase plant arrangements by Matthews Plants.

Awards will be presented at 4pm followed by the presentation of the Town Mayor’s Best Allotment Awards 2019.

All proceeds, and exhibits not collected, will be donated to the Town Mayor’s charity, Epping Forest Foodbank.

Visit www.loughton-tc.gov.uk/ to download a form or collect a copy from Loughton Town Council on Traps Hill or by call 020 8508 4200.