OXFORD in Bloom fan Betty Fletcher is looking forward to taking part in the competition one last time.

Mrs Fletcher, 68, takes great pride in tending the shared garden outside her council home, in Stockleys Road, on the Northway estate.

She has been entering the competition for the past five years but said this year would be her last.

She added: “I love taking part but I think this year will be my last because I’ve got arthritis and brittle bones and it’s not as easy for me to get about.

“It’s a great competition and the garden is looking very colourful at the moment – we’ve got begonias, clematis, honeysuckle, geraniums, petunias, lilies, marigolds and busy lizzies.

“One of my friends, Dennis Hulcup, helps me with the garden, but he’s 81 and he’s suffering from arthritis too.”

Mrs Fletcher added that she enjoyed attending the awards ceremony last year at the Roman Way Sports and Social Club, in Cowley.

She said: “I won a cup last year that was handed out to disabled gardeners.

“It’s a fantastic atmosphere on the awards night and I always really look forward to it.”

Earlier this month, Mrs Fletcher had a row with the city council after it installed a fence around the communal garden outside her home.

Although Mrs Fletcher requested the fence, after it arrived she said it was too big and asked for it to be removed, but the council refused.

Karen Roberts, a spokesman for Oxford in Bloom, said there was a now a steady stream of entries for the competition.

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

Results of the competition are announced at the presentation evening on September 17.

For Oxford in Bloom categories and judging criteria, see the website oxford.gov.uk