KEEN gardener Jayne Payne likes hanging baskets so much that she has collected about 40 outside her home on Oxford’s Barton estate.

The 53-year-old mother-of-one has covered the outside of her home in Burchester Avenue with flower-filled baskets and is hoping to win the hanging baskets category in this year’s Oxford in Bloom competition,. The contest is backed by the Oxford Mail and run by the city council, and 2009 categories include Most Beautiful Hanging Basket, Most Florally Attractive Window Box and most beautiful balcony.

Schools and businesses are also invited to enter the contest which attracts hundreds of entries from across the city.

Last year, Ms Payne was a winner in the large front garden, large back garden, and hanging basket categories and is hoping to continue her success this year.

She said: “I’ve collected lots of hanging baskets over the years — I used to have about 60 but now I reckon I have got about 40.

“They really brighten the place up and I fill them with begonias, petunias and marigolds. Some of the baskets are attached to one side of the house while others are in the garden and I get lots of positive comments from people on the estate, including students and the police community support officers.

“This is the third year I have entered the contest and I really enjoy it — it would be great if I could win a prize this time round but even if I don’t, I enjoy making the garden look nice.”

Competition spokesman Karen Roberts said: “We are starting to get lots of entries in.”

The closing date for entries is July 10, with judging to start the week beginning Monday, July 20.

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk For a full list of categories and judging details, visit the city council website at oxford.gov.uk