LATE developing daffs won the day for green-fingered Alan Greenwood at a national flower festival -- and made him the top amateur grower in the country.

Alan competed at the National Daffodil Society championships at Solihull at the weekend and scooped a harvest of trophies and prizes.

Success came just three weeks after the retired West Craven engineer was bemoaning his and fellow growers' bad luck at the Barnoldswick Horticultural Society Daffodil show.

Entries were well down this year because severe winter conditions held back the blooms which simply weren't ready in time for the Barnoldswick event.

But, says Alan, the timing for East Lancashire growers at the national show was just right and, with their blooms in peak condition he and fellow enthusiasts David Clamp, of Colne, and Pat and Melvyn King all came away with a bagful of prizes.

"It all worked out just right," said Alan, of Pennine Way, Barnoldswick.

Alan came away with two trophies -- the Denavarro Challenge Cup for six separate vases of single daffs and the Woodward Cup for the best amateur bloom, a pure white Tutankhamun.

Alan also won the Daffodil Society Diploma after gaining most points in the amateur classes.

In all he came away with six firsts and one second prize.

"I have been going to the show for three years and needless to say it is my best yet, " he said.