The Bride of the Year 2003 could be walking down the aisle clutching a bouquet of daisies or a cluster of African Violets courtesy of George Lesley Flowers.

Staff at the florists in Cricklade Road are once again offering their skill, advice and beautiful blooms to the winning bride.

Kate Hurst started the business from scratch 18 years ago and has turned it into a thriving success.

Kate, 53, said: "This will be the sixth year we have been a part of the competition and are very much looking forward to it again.

"We think it is wonderful for the town to have something like this every year.

"We specialise in the bizarre and really go for exotic, unusual flowers. Nowadays women getting married are confident people with strong personalities. It is a very exciting time.

"We are there to listen to the bride's ideas and advise them on colour schemes, texture, tone and size of the flowers."

Kate has a national diploma from the Society of Florists and is a fellow of the society. Her seven members of staff are all fully trained in floristry.

"It is important that our staff know about the flowers but also that they can envisage the overall picture," she said.

"We try to imagine everyone together after the wedding for the pictures to get an idea of colours. Often we use the bridesmaids' dresses as the theme as they tend to be the dominating factor."