ALRESFORD lavender specialists Long Barn Growers and Distillers are providing the lavender used in the eye-catching floral bouquets awarded to medal winners on the London 2012 Olympic podiums.

It sits alongside English roses, wheat, mint and rosemary.

Long Barn co-director Richard Norris said the company has supplied 300,000 stems of lavender for more than 4000 winners' bouquets, designed by Jane Packer.

Mr Norris said: "To see our lavender in the hands of Olympian sportsmen and women is incredibly moving!"

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.