WEDDED bliss was the theme of a flower festival at St Mary’s Church in Hawkesbury Upton.

A wedding in a country church was celebrated with floral arrangements dedicated to each of the milestone anniversaries a married couple share.

Professional florists and members of the community joined forces at the weekend to create centrepieces and displays marking eight wedding anniversaries including coral (35 years), sapphire (45 years) and diamond (60 years).

Other arrangements adorned the church alongside wedding dresses, supplied by Future Brides in Chipping Sodbury, and wedding cakes, by Cakes for All Occasions.

The event was organised by St Mary's parochial church council and all funds raised will go towards maintaining the parish council.

Organiser Sharon Grey said: "We decorated the church to give people a glimpse of how beautiful the church can look.

"We added special wedding anniversaries to highlight the fact that your wedding day is just the beginning of many years of married life shared together."

Gardens in the village were also open to the public and despite the downpours, hundreds of people turned up to view large rambling gardens and smaller cottage gardens.

In the barn next door to the church, a bee keeping exhibition was held to educate the public on how best to attract bees to the garden.

Beekeeper Ricia Saxton Banther said: "People know there is a serious problem and this was a chance to explain how complex the problems are.

"People need to understand this is not just a problem for bees but a problem for all of us."

Anyone with any questions on bees should call Ricia on 01454 238889.