Calls to bring back Monmouth in Bloom have been made following the success of neighbouring towns and villages.

With Raglan and Usk featuring on the national and international stage there are calls for Monmouth to step up and match its smaller neighbours.

With only a few premises in Monnow Street with flower displays and Monmouth in Bloom a distant memory, Church Street is one area of town that can still put on a good show.

Monmouth once gained a second place in Wales In Bloom and Homeforge House has won two Wales in Bloom awards for its garden display.

With Farringtons Restaurant leading the way, gardener and cafe owner Phil Parkinson has been helping to keep the flowers watered and supplied to other premises.

He explained that the watering system for Church Street is still working, with Farringtons supplying the one side of the street with water and Shuko’s supplying the other.

But he fears the system down Monnow Street is not working as it once was.

He is one trader that would support a resurrection of Monmouth in Bloom; “The problem is it gets very hot on the one side of Monnow Street and the flowers dry out too quickly,” he added.