DEVIZES florist Emily Smith is celebrating after winning two medals at the world's most prestigious flower show at the tender age of 18.

Emily who works part-time at Ammi Flowers while completing a course at Bath College took a bronze individual award and was part of a gold team entry at Chelsea Flower Show this week.

She took a bronze in The Chelsea Young Florist of the Year Competition while her and fellow Bath College students won gold for their Brazilian Carnival float.

Emily from Heddington, near Calne, and her fellow competitors had to create the carnival float for the College Of The Year competition. Emily's stunning design for a headdress in her individual entry represented the carnival atmosphere by using flowers and plants attached to a bespoke head piece structure.

Emily said: "I'm absolutely thrilled. I was aiming for high, and so delighted to get my bronze medal for individual effort and to also receive gold in the college competition is amazing. This is my first time at Chelsea, it was an amazing experience and such a great atmosphere."

She qualified in the Bath heat for Chelsea in late November with a score of 90 out of 100 and will be competing in the Young Chelsea Florist of the Year category against 16 rivals.

Before setting off for Chelsea she said: "My parents have always been encouraging. For the event we are going to have to make a Brazilian carnival headdress.

"I have loads of ideas it is really just finding the right one. My mum is really excited and is going to be coming up with me on the day."

After the event she said: "It was a really hard competition. Four of us hadn’t been to Chelsea before, but the others were seasoned veterans who knew what they were doing.

“I wasn’t expecting to get a medal at all, so to get a bronze was really good. I felt really happy, really relieved that I had a medal. There were so many phone calls afterwards.

“After meeting the other girls, it’s made me feel more at ease doing different competitions. I would love to do it again.”

Her mum Michelle Smith, 45, said: "It is unbelievable to achieve that. She would never brag about her achievements. She would prefer to blend into the background but I am extremely proud of her.

"She is always busy preparing for the show, trying to do her job, do her assignments or her show jumping . She is constantly busy and does not have five minutes spare.

"I did not encourage her into floristry she decided to do that herself and she has just taken to it."

Ammi owner Tracey Reed was delighted at the success of her trainee who will take up a full-time position once she finishes her college course.