More than 90,000 people flocked to this year's Malvern Spring Gardening Show, making it one of the biggest ever.

The show attracted visitors from as far afield as Hong Kong and New Zealand, as well as all corners of Britain - and they were all spending. Visitors pushed wheelbarrows piled high with plants and struggled with larger items like garden benches.

Brian Williams, of Earls Croome Garden Centre, said on the first day of the show: "It's been the best ever start. We've never sold so much so quickly. We've had to go and get more stock."

In the 1.6-acre floral marquee, an area larger then two football pitches, 95 of the nation's top nurseries had an estimated 3,000 varieties of plants on display.

Another 30 acres of weird and wonderful plants, garden furniture and gadgetry, tools and practical demonstrations, not to mention a host of gardening celebrities, gave visitors plenty to see and do.

RHS judges awarded a record 66 gold and silver-gilt medals to exhibitors and local nurseries were among the winners.

Among the 33 gold medal winners was Owens Bros (Worcs) Ltd for its spectacular conifers, while Rushfields of Ledbury and nurseryman Chris Pattison from Pendock scooped silver-gilts.

Grange Farm Nursery, Guarlford, was awarded silver for its romantic display of wisterias, clematis and herbaceous plants, while Leigh Sinton Garden Centre received a highly commended for its Young Gardener stand. This is a garden centre within a garden centre and is specially for children. It is the first of its kind in the UK.

Rushfields' owner Jan Nichols said she attended the very first Malvern show as a visitor from the north-east in 1986.

"Since moving to Ledbury it's become our local show and we have a stand every year," she said. "We do the other major garden shows but Malvern's definitely our favourite. We're pleased to have been awarded the silver-gilt for our spring perenials and hostas this year."

Carol Nicholls, of Grange Farm Nursery, said exhibiting at the show was "hard work but worth it".

"People are so complimentary. You couldn't have nicer customers," she said.