Judges dodged torrential rain when they toured Bicester to assess the town's blooms.

Wherever judges Peter Holman, left, and Bob Sweet went to look at floral hanging baskets, specially designed roundabouts and other displays they met rain yesterday.

Carol Steward, chairman of the Bicester/Britain in Bloom committee, said: "The rain was so bad when we got to the Sheep Street pedestrian precinct we all stayed in the people carrier."

Bicester won the small town category in the Chilterns region of Britain in Bloom last year, and this year entered the large town category.

Competition results will be available on October 2.