College students from Kent have won gold at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Floristry pupils at Hadlow College created their version of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party by using nothing but freshly cut flowers and techniques they learned in the classroom.

Their display features a hanging teapot, a table and five tier cake and was awarded with a gold medal by judges.

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It was also crowned college of the year.

Caroline Miller, a lecturer who is studying the Level 5 Master Diploma in Professional Floristry, said: “We’ve done really well. We had to construct three pieces, a tea pot, a chair and a cake. We had to do one of those pieces from scratch on the site.

“It’s really good, we were really pleased with what we’d done. That doesn’t happen often. To come away with the award on top was a bonus. It made it even better.

"They gave us a woodland background, we added a few branches and some fresh trees to add a three dimensional effect.

"The teapot is suspended so you can’t see the mechanics. Quite a lot of technique has gone into it.

"We’re all doing a level five course and coming to end of second year. There’s a lot going on anyway, with people finishing port folios and the last few assignments.

"There’s a lot of work going on, a lot of pressure. This was an added thing. To do it all well is really good.

"It’s absolutely brilliant. Loads of people are smiling, it’s great.

"Every single person is asking how the teapot is suspended there, there’s lots of interest in how we put it together. I’m just really happy with how it’s gone. We’re really pleased."

Kent’s second gold was picked up by Sue Marshall from Marden for her irises grown on behalf of the French plant breeder Cayeux.

The gold medal came after a 10 year long wait and her deep purple and white iris Domino, named after her cat, came second in the RHS Plant of the Year in 2014.

There was also success for Great Comp Garden, based in Platt.

Its curator, William Dyson, received a silver gilt for his stand in The Pavilion, called Dyson’s Salvia.

A new plant he has grown at his nursery, called Love and Wishes, also came third out of 35 entries for best new plant.

The plant was grown on behalf of an Australian breeder.

Mr Dyson said: “I’m very tired, you don’t get a lot of sleep but these shows, but I’m really pleased with what we’ve achieved.

“A lot of hard work, skill and trickery goes into making them flower at this time of the year but it’s all worthwhile when you see such beautiful flowers.”