IT started off as an idea to persuade children to eat more vegetables and ended up as a thriving community garden complete with its own shop – a converted public telephone box.

Now young gardeners in Minety are going for gold at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show after growing their latest bumper crop of vegetables.

Broad beans, carrots and Swiss chard cultivated by children aged four and under will be incorporated into a garden displayed at the world’s most prestigious flower show from May 19-23.

“The children are naturally very excited that their vegetables have been chosen for the show again,” said Stuart Jackson, a helper with the Minety Pre-school.

“They really love gardening and do a little bit every day.”

Youngsters at the pre-school began gardening eight years ago after it was felt that it would encourage them to eat vegetables they had grown themselves.

They now have greenhouses and two garden plots and their produce is on sale at the old village phone box-turned-pre-school shop.

In 2012 Mr Jackson became aware that the group could apply to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) for free compost.

The condition was that they grow plants and veg for consideration for the Chelsea Flower Show.

Twice their veg has been selected for the show, during which they were awarded a Silver Medal and Silver Gilt award.

They were also thrilled to learn that the Queen had admired a garden featuring the fruits of their labours.

Last year the youngsters designed and built their own show garden at the RHS Malvern Spring Show.

Registering for consideration for this year’s Chelsea show, they were told they had to grow broad beans, carrots and Swiss chard in three different compost mixtures.

During the cultivation process they submitted photos showing the size, colour and leaves on their veg.

Now compost company Scotts Miracle-Gro told them they have chosen the group’s veg for their garden at the 2015 show.

Mr Jackson said: “It’s great news. We have won have a Silver medal and a Silver Gilt at Chelsea, so this year we are hoping for Gold.”

Meanwhile, their plants and veg can be bought from Minety’s Old Phone Box with prices starting at 50p and all proceeds going to Minety Pre-school and Forest school.