THORNBURY will be in the horticultural spotlight again after being invited back into the national Britain in Bloom competition.

The town has a string of accolades to its name at regional and country-wide level after outperforming many other towns of similar size every year.

But only the best are asked to represent their region in the nationals and Thornbury will once more be the South West's candidate when the judging is carried out in the summer of 2014.

It will be an extra special year as the contest, run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), will also be celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Councillor Guy Rawlinson, chairman of Thornbury in Bloom, said: "To be invited to enter the national competition is a great honour and is due to our outstanding record in the competition.

"Britain in Bloom will be celebrating its golden jubilee in 2014 and everyone at the RHS wants to make it a special year."

The invitation came after the town's recent impressive results, which included a gold medal in the Champion of Champions section in 2012 and a gold award and best in class cup at the regional awards in 2013, despite contending with the late arrival of spring.

Councillor Rawlinson said: "The feedback from the judges was extremely complimentary. The sense of enthusiasm from everybody they met reinforced how proud we all are of our town.

"Thornbury in Bloom is supported by so many individuals, community groups and businesses in the town. They all make the Thornbury in Bloom project such an enjoyable one in which to participate, so to all I would like to say a big thank you."

Meanwhile, in an effort to find out people's views about Thornbury in Bloom's work, the team has been working with a group of final year IT students at the University of the West of England to try and gain support through social media.

A survey has also been prepared and families are being encouraged to complete a form, with all those returned entered into a prize draw.

The first survey drawn out of a hat will receive a £20 garden voucher.

The form can be reached through the Thornbury in bloom website.