THINK of symphonies at Winchester Cathedral and you can't help but imagine sounds of grand orchestras booming through the halls.

But that image will change on Wednesday, June 12 thanks to the Symphony of Flowers, the first flower festival at the cathedral for 10 years.

The five-day event will fill the historic building with thousands of flowers, while the Inner Close will feature other horticultural displays, potting sheds, and a market.

Creative director Angela Turner said months of hard work had gone into organising the event, which would use more than 100 species.

She said: “You have two or three years to organise some festivals but my team has had less than a year. It's been frantic but we are on track and very excited.”

It is the first time Ms Turner, of Bournemouth, is lead organiser and she added: “It's been a massive challenge coordinating everyone and coming up with a master plan. People like to see flowers but they want something different as well.

“My job was not to smother the cathedral in flowers but to enhance it. I hope it will go down well and will be a huge success because a lot of people have worked very, very hard on this.”

The cathedral flower arranging team is creating a display around Jane Austen's grave to mark the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice's publication, featuring the cathedral's own rose.

The festival is organised by the cathedral and the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS), with the proceeds to support the refurbishment of the cathedral organ, which dates to the Great Exhibition in 1851.

Displays have been designed by an award-winning team and will be created by hundreds of NAFAS members from Wessex and Jersey.

Ms Turner and her design team, Pip Bensley and Pauline Hurran, have all exhibited at this year's Chelsea Flower Show and received national and international acclaim for their collective work.

As well as displays, there will also be several flower arranging demonstrations and workshops.

The festival also features a number of musical events including a concert by the cathedral chamber choir on Thursday, June 13.

Symphony of Flowers runs from 9am-5pm until Sunday, June 16, and until 8pm on the Wednesday and Friday, with tickets £10.

For more details call 01962 857 275 or visit winchester-cathedral.org.uk. Booking in advance is recommended and allows for fast-track entry.