A CELEBRITY gardener is causing a stir among more than just the flowerbeds - after complimentary remarks about his physique have appeared on a gay website.

Chris Beardshaw, who was born and brought up at Broad Green, near Broadwas, appears on BBC television's Flying Gardener - and it seems his flowery talk has brought him a new wave of fans.

Several remarks about the green-fingered celebrity - who also appears on BBC's Gardeners' World - have popped up on the chatroom of gay website www.uk.gay.com

The saucy chat was sparked off by an entry from "Josh" saying the dark-haired gardener - who went to Bishop Perowne CE High School, Worcester, and trained in horticulture at Pershore College - was a "looker" and asked for "goss" on him.

Tight

A reply from a user called "Hudson" says 'I only watch (Gardener's World) for the gardening tips and have never noticed how good looking he is, or how tight the jeans are!'

And in other postings on the website's chatroom Mr Beardshaw - who began his television career in 1999 on Carlton television's Surprise Gardeners programme - is described as "hot" and good looking, with a couple entries saying they wish he would "stop wearing long tops."

And Mr Beardshaw - who appeared at the Spring Gardening Show at Malvern's Three Counties Showground last weekend - appeared flattered about his new status as a gay icon.

"My passion is working with plants and I certainly never intended to become a sex symbol, so I'm extremely flattered if this is the case," he told the Evening News.