A GARDEN that was designed by a team of North-East amateur florists took its inspiration from regional landmarks and won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show.

The team - seven women and one man - were given the accolade by judges for their Reflections exhibit, described as "a contemporary representation of the North-East scenery and landscape".

Reflections took more than 18 months to create, and was constructed in a barn near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

The team, who live throughout the region, based their design on North-East landmarks, including Durham Cathedral and Newcastle's Quayside.

The exhibit is nearly six metres square, and has a metal frame decorated in peach and green colours. There is water in the base to symbolise the region's rivers.

The group, selected to represent the National Association of Flower Arrangers at Chelsea, say their hard work has paid off.

Mildred Stafford, from Rushyford, near Darlington, said that she and her fellow creators were "absolutely and utterly elated".

"The group of us spent the last 18 months working in a barn through cold, rain and snow to complete Reflections," she said.

"We have all gone without a lot of sleep. We started constructing our exhibit when we arrived in Chelsea last Wednesday, and worked through until 2am on Monday. Now, that work seems more than worthwhile.

"We took a lot of inspiration from Durham Cathedral, with its four towers - that is reflected in our exhibit, but in a very contemporary way.

"There is also the influence from the rivers and water around the region."

Reflections will be displayed at Chelsea until the show ends on Sunday.