YOUNG florist Sarah Hampton hopes her career will bloom after being chosen to compete at Chelsea Flower Show.

Sarah, 18, who works at The Blossom Tree flowers and gifts in Market Lavington, near Devizes and studies floristry at Bath College was chosen after impressing the judges during a south west regional heat.

She will now travel to the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea with fellow Bath students Lora Stevens and Linda Sorenson for the show that runs from May 22nd to May 27th.

They will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of a team of florists from Bath College who last year won RHS Chelsea Floristry College of the Year and 17-year-old Emily Smith, from Heddington who achieved a bronze medal in the Young Florist of the Year competition.

Sarah is among 16 florists from across the UK chosen for this year's final of the Young Florist of the Year competition.

Lora has also been entered for the Young Florist of the Year contest while Linda will compete for the title of Chelsea Florist of the Year which is usually reserved for professional florists.

Sarah said: “I was nervous competing in the regional heat, but I found it a good experience and it was great to see everyone’s creations.

“Last year we entered as a college group and achieved the best college award. I’m looking forward to returning as I loved entering last year.

“I’m sure it will feel very different as an individual competitor, but I can’t wait to experience it with Linda and Lora.”

Florists entering the regional heats were asked to create designs inspired by a wedding for the curator of the Tate Modern in London.

Their final designs will be in the spotlight as thousands of people visit Chelsea Flower Show later this month.

Sarah said: “My design was a bouquet for the curator at the Tate Modern. I made an unusual bouquet, which included a self-made structure.

“I love floristry because it brings happiness to people. I couldn’t decide what to do after GCSEs, but I knew I wanted to do something creative. I looked through lots of college prospectuses and was really drawn to floristry.”