A BIENNIAL church flower show has been hailed as a great success.

The Round Church in Church Road, Little Maplestead, hosted it last weekend and saw surprise guest John Whittingdale pop in for the afternoon.

The MP for Maldon and the former secretary of state for culture, media and sport “could not resist visiting”.

Mr Whittingdale said: “I was staying with friends in the area, and I could not resist visiting the Flower Festival at this charming little parish church.

“I was greatly impressed with the creativity of the florists and the really striking impact of the arrangements.”

The Flower Festival weekend was well attended, and organisers said the flower arrangements were imaginative and beautiful.

There was also a raffle with wonderful prizes, and at the end of the weekend a lucky few were able to take their chosen floral arrangement home to enjoy for days to come.

The weekend raised an impressive £1,800. A provisional date of the first weekend of October has been set for the 2018 Flower Festival weekend.

The festival is held in the village every two years and is organised by the church.

The church thanked everyone involved with organisation, donations and sponsorships.