Port's annual flower festival has been hailed as the best ever

Tele gardening expert George Irvine praised entrants for their high standards, effort and imagination.

Families flocked to the town hall and were treated to super spring flowers, crafts and even a nod to the stars with a display of 'planets' along with plants.

Mr Irvine said: "It was a very high standard.

"A lot of effort went into detail and innovation."

Parklea Branching Out provided a wonderful display in the foyer and also set out all the exhibits.

Mr Irvine said: "People were greeted at the entrance to the show with a colourful display of flowers, not only that, but a strong fragrance particularly from the daffodils.

"They gave off a fantastic scent and cheered people up.

"I heard lots of comments about how well presented the show was."

Tulips topped the best bulb section.

George said: "It was a brilliant display of spring flowers, the best I've seen in a long time."

There was also an impressive crafts section with Gourock enthusiast David Young taking first prize with his model allotment entry.

Mr Irvine said: "It's a work of art - he even had an Anderson Shelter in it.

"He made the tools in miniature, the lawnmower, and roller for the grass.

"He was a worthy winner."

Visitors to the show included Provost Robert Moran, Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie who was out canvassing in the area with local Labour colleagues.

Mr Irvine said: "She was very impressed, which was nice to hear from someone from another area."

Youngsters also wowed judges with their creative entries.

The Gaelic nursery at Whinhill Primary combined their topic on the planets with bulbs to win best exhibit.

George said: "They created a display of planets and named them in Gaelic and English, then linked them to flowers, depicting colours of the planets.

"Considering they were all under five, they did a brilliant job."

Local organisations set up stalls at the event and entertainment was provided by the Woopi Singers and May Hughes School of Dance.

The 27th Greenock Guides sought inspiration for their craft entry from local history with a collage of the upturned sugar ship MV Captayannis stranded at the Tail O' the Bank.

Mr Irvine said: "The intriguing thing is, the water in the pictures is made from sugar and they used food dye to colour it blue.

"A lot of thought went into it."

For the first time there were also craft stalls downstairs in the town hall where people could buy anything from paintings, crafts and cupcakes.

Mr Irvine said: "It's one of the shows I've seen in Port Glasgow and was full of new ideas."

This year's results:

Section A: Playgroups & Nurseries - Jim Hunter Trophy.

1st Place: Whinhill Primary.

2nd Place: Binnie Street Children's Centre.

3rd Place: Larkfield Family Centre.

Section B: Competition for each school - Individual Children Participating – Peter Borthwick Trophy.

1st Place: Whinhill Primary.

2nd Place: St John’s Primary.

3rd Place: St. Joseph’s Primary.

Section C: Inter-Schools Competition - The Henry Lithgow Trophy.

1st Place: Craigmarloch School.

2nd Place: Joint winners All Saints Primary & Kilmacolm Primary.

Section D: Children’s Paintings - The Lady Jean Stevenson Trophy.

Winner: St. John’s Primary.

Section E: Playgroups & Nurseries -The Port Glasgow Millennium Trophy.

1st Place: Inverkip Nursery

2nd Place: Larkfield Children's Centre

3rd Place: Whinhill Nursery.

Section F: Junior Organisations & After-School Clubs - Provost GC Brownlee Trophy.

1st Place: 27th Greenock Guides

2nd Place: Port Glasgow Guides

3rd Place: 27th Greenock Brownies.

Section G: Junior Organisation 12-18 years - The Inverclyde Council Shield

Winner: 27th Greenock Guides.

Section I: Junior Organisations & After School Clubs 5 to 11 years -The Birkmyre Shield

Winner: Port Glasgow Guides

Section J: Junior Organisations 12 to 18 years -The Cathie Allan Memorial Shield

Winners 27th Greenock Guides.

Section K: Open to all Inverclyde Residents The Inverclyde District Council Shield

1st Place: Geraldine McDermott

2nd Place: Joint winners - Paul & Michael McDermott

Section L: Senior Citizens Organisations -The Burgh of Port Glasgow Cup

Winners - Holy Family UCM

Section M: Floral arrangement - Coronation Park Trophy

1st Place: Kathleen Bell.

Section N: Open to all amateur bakers - The Comet Trophy.

Winner: Wellpark Children's Centre.