SCHOOL children across Warrington have been carefully cultivating their green-fingered attempts to become champion growers.

Over the past few weeks, Bents Garden Centre has been preparing for one of its most hotly contested competitions, the national schools growing competition.

The regional final was held at the Glazebury garden centre on June 10 with children from 10 nearby primary schools gathering to hear the results of the Bizzie Lizzy growing competition.

Louise Caulfield, from Christchurch Primary School in Padgate, (whose cousin was last year's winner) was announced as this year's champion.

Louise was presented with her prizes by Barry Heden from Culcheth and District Horticultural Society. The youngster picked up a cheque for £1,000 for her school and was also entered into the national finals.

Matthew Bent, retail director at Bents, said: "This is the sixth year we have taken part in the growing competition and once again it has been great fun to organise! We think any initiative that gets children enthusiastic about plants and planting is a great idea and like to encourage hands-on activities."

More than 600 pupils took part in the Bents stage of the competition from schools including: St Edward's Catholic Primary, Christ Church CE Primary, Croft Primary, Gorse Covert Primary, Bedford Hall Methodist Primary, Twiss Green Primary, Culcheth County Primary, Glazebury CE Primary, St Thomas's CE Primary and St Peter's CE Primary.