PLANS for a regional garden festival to be held in Southampton are growing fast.

The first festival will be held on Southampton Common during the weekend of June 25 and 26.

It will provide some consolation to community groups who expressed dismay when the Daily Echo revealed that the city's annual balloon festival, and accompanying floral show were to be scrapped due to declining visitor numbers.

Leisure chiefs said they could no longer find a sponsor for the £60,000 festival that was traditionally held on the last weekend in June.

Instead Southampton's most popular green space will this year host a wide range of green-fingered attractions including exhibitions from trade organisations, nurseries and local societies.

Floral competitions open to all will include categories for children and arts and crafts will be displayed in a marquee. The Build A Garden 12-Hour Challenge - open to garden centres and landscape gardeners - will allow people to literally watch a garden grow.

For vehicle enthusiasts there will be a classic transport display and musical entertainment will include palm court music and jazz.

Visitors will also be able to leave their purchases in the capable hands of festival staff, before collecting them at the end of the day.

Head of leisure at Southampton City Council, Paul Mawson, said: "This will recognise both the history and expertise we have in this type of event and in the modern interest in gardening and the environment."