SUNFLOWER CHALLENGE: Blooming beautiful

The growing is over and what a crop we've got.

The Gazette’s Sunflower Challenge has produced a forest of fabulous flowers.

Some of them are pictured here, with the young gardeners who have grown them.

Lincoln Angus, 18 months old, with his sunflower. It's a lot bigger now.

The competition, run in association with Alnwick in Bloom, is now at the judging stage.

The Alnwick in Bloom judges will soon be out and about with their tapes, measuring the sunflowers. They’re going to need step ladders to reach the top.

The winner will receive a £25 voucher, second place £15 and third £10. Five runners-up with each get a £5 voucher.

The prizes will be presented later this month.

Emilia Bowden, aged two-and-a-half, with her forest of sunflowers.

The annual challenge, for which Alnwick in Bloom provides free sunflower seeds, is open to children aged 16 and under.