A KEEN gardener was left crushed after his plans to introduce a sweet pea competition at this year’s South Cerney flower show were rejected by the organisers.

Martin Stephens, 61, met with show secretary Jenny Jay earlier this year to discuss launching a competition for the best sweet peas, to celebrate the centenary of the popular event this August.

He was inspired by his late parents' love of sweet peas, and planned to have cash prizes for the three best bunches.

However, Despite many people showing interest in the idea, the show committee said the response wasn't big enough to continue with the contest.

“I’m so disappointed," said Martin, from Cirencester.

"It was meant to be a bit of fun.

"I had the Cricklade gardening club interested and a chap from Chedworth who grows about 300 plants each year.

"Of course there would have been the village people who normally enter flowers for the show.

"The show was an ideal venue to run the competition.

“As the inclusion in the show was the only way I could launch the competition, it is with deep regret that I have no alternative but to cancel the event,” he added.

Mrs Jay said the committee would have been happy to host the contest, but had “initial misgivings” about the uptake.

“Unfortunately these misgivings have been realised," she said.

"In the circumstances it was unanimously decided by the committee that we would have to decline the offer," she said.

The committee said they would be pleased to support Martin if he tried to launch the competition again in the future.