Firefighters turn their hand to growing giant sunflowers for Milton Keynes challenge

The Big Community Sunflower Challenge was launched in May in Woburn Sands.

It was the brainchild of the Community Plant and Garden Equipment Recyling group, which runs a Facebook page for people to give away or swap seeds, plants, pots and garden equipment.

Residents in Woburn Sands, Aspley Guise, Wavendon, Aspley Heath, Bow Brickhill and Ridgmont were invited to pick up free sunflower seeds, donated by Frosts Garden Centre, from a table set up in town.

A spokesman for the group said at the time: "Each family can grow their sunflowers so our community can have a wonderful display of different types of sunflowers to welcome Autumn and turn our community into a lovely sunflower display.

"We are asking families to take photos of their sunflower displays and message their pictures in and we will also be judging the best sunflower display."

This month the community effort was rewarded by a massive display of the cheery yellow flowers in gardens all over the area.

Among the sunflower success stories was Woburn Community Fire Station, where firefighters had nurtured their seeds and watered them daily for weeks.

The proud crew this week took photographs of the results.