IN THE early days prized blooms would travel in the guard's van on the express train to London.

Members of the Bishopstoke Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society regularly returned from their away day trip to the capital with a bumper crop of trophies.

Sadly, the society, with its roots going back to the early 1940s, has come to the end of the line.

It was an emotional moment last weekend as the trestle tables were put away for the final time.

For it signalled the end of an era for an organisation which had become very much part of the Bishopstoke landscape.

More than a dozen times the dedicated band of Bishopstoke gardeners scooped the challenge trophy at the prestigious National Chrysanthemum Society Show in London.

In recent times, however, there has not been the support which would have ensured that the society continued to blossom.

Society treasurer Mike Buckingham, who at 63 is one of the youngest members, said: "There is a lot of physical work involved in putting together our shows."

One of the society's founder members, Ernie Honeybone, died recently at the age of 99.

The seeds for the society were sown in 1939 when Mr Honeybone, who lived in Drake Road, Bishopstoke, was one of ten gardening pals who got together in the top room of the village's Anchor Inn.

Mr Buckingham said: "There are not enough young people coming along to take their place. The society has done well to keep going as long as it has and unfortunately it has come to the end of an era.

"The shows have always been well attended by the community. It is sad for the local people, who have been able to see flowers which they would not normally see."

The last show went out with a fine flourish with its typically high standard of early flowering chrysanthemums, dahlias and vegetables.