OVER the last few weeks, Bents Garden Centre alongside the Greyhound Island at Leigh has been preparing for one of its most hotly contested competitions - the National Schools Petunia Growing Competition, the regional finals of which took place at the Warrington Road Centre.

Emily Parr from Twiss Green Community Primary School in Culcheth was not only announced as her school's winning entry, but also as the 4-6 age group winner and the day's overall champion. She was presented with a trio of prizes including vouchers, a Bents goodie bag and Bill & Ben gardening products.

Emily will now be entered into the national finals, which will be held at the BBC Gardeners World Live Show at the NEC on Saturday.

Winners were Fern Illidge (8) - Bedford Hall Methodist School; Caron Littler - garden centre worker and organiser; Paul Caulfield (9) - Christ Church School, Pennington; Helen Isherwood (8) - Christ Church School, Pennington and Megan Ditchfield (6) - Bradshaw Lane School, Grappenhal; Tyler Ashcroft (5) - St Thomas' School, Leigh, Max Worthington (6) - Croft School, overall winner Emily Parr (6) - Twiss Green School and Millie Knowles (7) from St Joseph's School, Little Hulton.