Chelsea gold for Raymond Evison and Guernsey Clematis

Raymond Evison described the Queen's visit as a "tremendous honour"

Clematis grower Raymond Evison has won his 26th gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The medal was awarded for the Guernsey Clematis display, which has won a gold each year since 2003.

Mr Evison said: "[I'm] absolutely thrilled, [I've] been really worried because it's been exceedingly hot and the flowers were fading."

He paid tribute to the members of his team, saying it had been a "team effort" and "a great thrill".

Mr Evison said the visit of the Queen to the display had been a "tremendous honour".

Raymond Evison has entered the annual flower show 44 times since 1960

Sir Geoffrey Rowland, Guernsey's former Bailiff, praised the display and suggested the home-grown success could be used to attract visitors to the island.

He said most stands were sponsored by financial institutions so the advertising of the island as a tourist destination could be done as a public-private partnership.