MARK the date in your diary because Eastleigh's community show is just around the corner.

For the second year running Eastleigh Horticultural Society is joining forces with the town's Lions Club to turn the annual horticultural show into three days of family fun.

The question of who can grow the best carrots will be far from everyone's minds when the event kicks off on Friday, September 7, with a fashion show.

Tickets are on sale now for the show by Frantastic of Totton at Eastleigh's Posthouse Hotel, which will feature ladies' evening and daywear from America, Germany and Ireland. The event starts at 7.30pm, and there will also be a cabaret show, stalls and a raffle.

On Saturday, September 8, the activity moves to the Leigh Road recreation ground, where the 15th annual Eastleigh Horticultural Show will take place from 10am-5pm.

Floral art, vegetables, jams, cakes and fruits will be among the exhibits on display inside the marquee, with prizes awarded to the winners in each class by the mayor at 4pm.

An arts and crafts show will run alongside, with children's activities and entertainment, rides, a bouncy castle, a clown, performances by the Salvation Army band, a plant sale and demonstrations of glass-painting and air-dry clay.

And on Sunday, September 9, an antiques and collectors fair with items for sale and exchange will round off the weekend at the recreation ground, from 10am-5pm.

Proceeds from all events will go towards the mayor's three charities - the Save Shakespeare Swimming Pool appeal, the British Legion benevolent fund, and Friends of Shopmobility.

Mike Buckingham, chairman and organiser of the Eastleigh Horticultural Show, said: "Last year was the first time we joined together with the Lions Club to present the show and it was a meeting of minds that proved very successful.

"We were finding it very difficult to get sponsorship and it was agreed the Lions would sponsor the show, and any profit would go to their good causes."