THOUSANDS of green-fingered gardeners braved torrential downpours at Sparsholt College to enjoy a special garden party.

On Saturday, the BBC Radio 4 programme, Gardeners' Question Time, chose the college to hold its Summer Garden Party, which marked its diamond jubilee.

Around 3,000 fans of the show, who had applied for tickets to the event, were able to watch and take part in two recordings, one to be aired the following day and the other this Sunday (June 24) to an audience of 2m listeners.

That meant they could put their gardening questions to the celebrity panel, made up from Eric Robson, Chris Beardshaw, Bob Flowerdew, John Cushnie, Bunny Guinness, Pippa Greenwood and Anne Swithinbank.

Aimie Thomas, from Sparsholt College, said: "It's been a terribly popular event and despite the weather today people have been flocking in.

"People have travelled from across the country to be here today."

It was the fourth time the garden party had been held at the college and, to mark the 60th anniversary of the show, staff dressed up in 1940s clothes.

The college created a 1940s garden, complete with Anderson shelter, chickens, rabbits and pigs.

Guests were also able to visit the show's famous Garden of the South and potting shed, which both feature regularly on the programme.

BBC weather presenter, Peter Gibbs, was on hand to give talks and there were trial beds, where ideas from both the show's panel and listeners were put to the test.

Staff from the college were also dotted around the site to give talks and tips to the gardeners as they strolled through the grounds.