Show gardeners are hard at work on their plots ready for Sandringham Flower Show.

Thousands are expected to flock to the Royal Estate on Wednesday for one of Norfolk's best-loved summer events.

One of the highlights are the keenly-fought show garden competitions, where displays large and small compete for the coveted Best in Show trophies.

A woven willow helicopter yesterday hovered over John Shone's Air Ambulance Garden, designed and built by craftsfolk from Rutland Willows.

'I have a cousin who would not be alive were it not for the air ambulance,' said show veteran Mr Shone, who has been entering gardens each year since the show gardens competition was launched eight years ago.

'It's just a good cause, especially as they don't get any government funding.'

Nearby John Harrison and Anna Linford were hard at work creating a small garden showing how gardeners can work with nature - while their children Heather and Charles, aged 14 and 12, were working away next door on an Olympic-themed garden, with help from 14-year-old schoolfriend Morgan Lee.

'We enjoy doing this because it's a family time for us,' said Mr Harrison. 'It's a week where we can all do something, where we can all create something as a family.'

Heather said the garden she was creating with Charles and Morgan was called Growing for Gold. Her team are believed to be the youngest show gardeners to take part at Sandringham.

Gates open at 9am on Wednesday. Admission �9 adults, under-16s free. Don't miss Wednesday's EDP for a special show gardens supplement.

We will also have an exhibition of Royal photographs from our archives in the Royal Marquee, and live coverage from the showground on our website, edp24.