Usk in Bloom has been nominated for the top floral competition in the UK, the Britain in Bloom - Champion of Champions. It will mean that the small Welsh town will be up against cities such as Bath and Truro and towns and villages such as Norton in Hales, Filby and Market Bosworth.

Despite having previously won the Britain in Bloom four times, gaining a gold standard in the 2014 competition and having an Usk garden as the best front garden in Wales, the group of volunteer enthusiasts know that this time they will be up against some keen professionals.

The city of Bath were the first winners of the Britain in Bloom competition 50 years ago in 1964 and have won thirteen times.

Chairman of Usk in Bloom, Tony Kear is immensely proud to be representing Wales: "It is a tremendous privilege and a great honour to be the only Welsh town in the Champion of Champions and we have asked for support from the Welsh Government's first minister Carwyn Jones and the Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb."

The judges will not only be looking at the flowers, but also the environment and the community of the competitors.

"We are in the planning stage at the moment and are choosing our floral schemes," said Tony, "but the rewards for the winner will be enormous as you can see from last year's winner, Shrewsbury.

"We are working off the back of our recent Royal visit and the two television

programs we have featured in, our grant from Usk Town Council has been increased which has given us a boost.

"The basic principle of competing is the same, we just have to take the standard a little further," he added optimistically.