LESLIE Blades, a retired lorry driver, praised his wife Margaret yesterday for helping him win a host of show prizes with his flowers this summer.

His latest victory was in the annual Gainford Show, near Barnard Castle, at the weekend, where he won the Davis Cup for most points overall and the Kenyon Trophy for the best floral exhibit.

This followed a success at Hartlepool Show, where he was runner up overall.

"I enjoy my garden but I am grateful to Margaret for all the help she gives me," said Mr Blades, who lives at Redworth, near Darlington.

David Hunt also won two trophies at Gainford. He took the Challenge Cup for the best fruit or vegetable, and the Jim Ryder Trophy for the best collection of four vegetables.

Margaret Foster received the Silver Cup for the best cookery exhibit, a traybake, and the WI Home and Country Cup for most points in the cookery classes.

Anne Pratt gained the cup for the best floral arrangement, three flowers in a Japanese-style vase. Josie Caton took the award for the best floral interpretation of the phrase All That Jazz, with bright dahlias on a red and black background.

Other trophy winners were: Shield for best fruit exhibit - D Starr; Cross Keys Shield for best leek - C Burley; Miss Brown Trophy for best rose - R Clark; Society Trophy for best pansies - K Hebden; Jefferson Trophy for best pot plant - J Towers; John Caris Trophy for children's cookery - C Mason; Beryl Avison Trophy for most children's cookery points - J Rutter; Cup for ladies arts and crafts - E Harris; Spalding Cup for men's crafts - E Hogg; Arts and crafts under five years - C Dods; arts and crafts five-eight years - J Bailey-Withers; arts and crafts nine-12 years - N Brown; Goodliffe Trophy for photography - J Bird.