WILLITON florist Gemma Thresher certainly has a rosy future after coming third in a prestigious national floristry competition held at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show last week.

Gemma, who works at the village's Orange Pip, represented the South West in the final of the Interflora Florist of the Future.

She was up against six other florists from across the UK and Ireland, who were all regional finalists in their own right.

And Gemma - whose award-winning creations are currently on display in the window of the Orange Pip - wowed the judges with her innovation and originality to clinch third place.

Her first piece, a floral handbag, was pre-made with the brief being to make the ultimate designer accessory for the Interflora 90th anniversary gala ball.

Then, under the pressure of being up against the clock and in front of a live audience of show visitors, Gemma had to create three more key pieces.

These included a free-standing floral screen to demonstrate floristry from the last 90 years, a floral cake to amaze guests at the gala ball and a surprise item, a hand-tie, designed to be presented at the dance.

Gemma said the whole competition experience had been "fantastic".

"I loved designing and constructing my floral handbag and I think it was my best item," she said.

"But I really enjoyed the timed conditions of the surprise item, too.

"Through all my items I tried to capture a flavour of all the decades to mark Interflora's anniversary year, but I love the colours and styles of the 1920s and so those influences were particularly apparent in my work."

As well as coming third overall, she took third place in the floral handbag class and was joint second for her floral cake.

David Pollard, who owns the Orange Pip in Fore Street, said: "We are all extremely proud of Gemma. This is a real achievement and an endorsement of her incredible floral talent.

"We are very fortunate to have Gemma working with us."

Now in its 13th year, the Florist of the Future competition is seen as the top challenge for up-and-coming florists who have less that four years' experience in the trade.

Many finalists go on to achieve great things in the industry and Rhys Hughes, president of Interflora UK, said he was proud to present the prizes at this year's event.

"We have to invest in new talent to ensure that the standard of floristry on the high street remains high and the competition demonstrated that creativity and passion is still at the heart of what we do," he said.