Panto horse costumes, welly tossing and dancing to the Black Eyed Peas were the order of the day for participants in the GCA Olympics - the traditional opening event of the annual GCA conference.
Raising £10,000 for industry charity Greenfingers, the Olympics saw garden centre staff relay race in coal sacks, shot putt Colocasia bulbs, race wheelbarrows, toss fence posts and run a relay with weedkiller bucket batons in oversized wellies.

The garden centre team, who picked the name The Pansies, went head to head with associate team The Cabbages to battle it out for a trophy.

GCA chairman Peter Burks said: "My particular favourite was the equestrian event, which saw each team don a panto horse costume and race over hurdles cross country style, and then give a dressage dance routine.

"I'd like to congratulate both the teams and thank everyone for their efforts in raising £10,000 for Greenfingers."

Following the event there was a formal medal ceremony, athletes parade and a closing ceremony, which took place after dinner.

Barton Grange Garden Centre managing director Guy Topping was captain of winning team The Pansies. "We all really enjoyed taking part in the GCA Olympics and it was a close competition," he said. "The Pansies were a great team and I'm pleased we won the trophy.

"The highlight of the even for me was the dressage, we'd been told we would have to do our routine to Lady Gaga but our team actually had to dance to the Black Eyed Peas. I think we did particularly well in that element of the competition."