A BEQUEST and grant have enabled Sid Valley Horticultural Society to buy bunting and display boards for its 81st annual gardening and craft show.

A BEQUEST and grant have enabled Sid Valley Horticultural Society to buy bunting and display boards for its 81st annual gardening and craft show.

Les Bull, who died last November, left �250.

Society chairman, Maureen Britton said: "He was a wonderful member of the horticultural society for 30 years and was, during that time, show secretary and treasurer.

"His bequest is just fantastic. We have used some to buy cotton bunting for the marquee - which is larger this year - and we hope to get a cup in his name for next year's show."

The show opens Sidford sports field at 2pm on Saturday, August 15, and Maureen hopes the Met Office's revised forecast for a wet August is wrong.

"We are praying we don't have another wet year, we've had three on the trot," she said.

The Keith Owen Trust's grant of �5,000 has provided 14 display boards to display 250 children's art entries and photographic entries.

They replace old tennis nets and, said Maureen: "They will make a tremendous difference. We have enough to go down the marquee."

As well as paintings, the boards will display photographic entries. Town Council chairman, Councillor Peter Sullivan, will present a �150 grant during the afternoon and gardening expert Kieron Bewes will present cups and trophies before the show ends at 6pm.

There are nearly 600 other entries and this year Sidmouth College students will display some of their GCSE art and textiles work and horticulture.

Maureen said: "It is really nice, we have not had 11-16 year-olds in the show for a long time."

A life-size scarecrow produced by the students will be on display and younger show goers can guess its name.

"Last year we were so encouraged to see families come with children," said Maureen, "and we really hope they will come again."

Sidford WI will offer cream teas at the social hall and new competitions include mini gardens on a plate for adults and cookery for children.

Entries must be in by Monday August 10 to Sidford Post Office, Drews of Sidbury or Whoops a Daisy, Sidmouth.