An allotment holder has been carrying on the celebrations after his garden was named best in show at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Cleve West, who has lived in Teddington for more than 25 years, was thrown a special reception by the mayor of Richmond Councillor to celebrate his success at the world-renowned flower show.

The gardener, who can often be found in his Bushy Park allotment, wowed judges with his sunken garden which mixed old and the new elements and included sculptures by French artists Serge Bottagisio and Agnes Decouz.

The end result was described as a “magical experience” by judges at the famous flower show, held in May, who awarded the garden best in show.

Mr West, 52, said: “I had a fantastic team helping to build it. It involved so many people.

“It took nine months to complete - it was a bit like having a baby.”

The garden also had a touch of sentiment as buried within the foliage was a letter the garden designer had written to his mother Yvette who died last year.

As part of the mayor’s reception held in York House, Twickenham, on Friday, July 22, Mr West was presented with a painting of the Isabella Plantation, in Richmond Park.