SENIOR Conservative Stephen Crabb visited Usk to give backing to its successful In Bloom community group.

Usk in Bloom will compete in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Champion of Champions competition next month after winning in its Britain in Bloom category for the last 33 years.

The chairman of Usk in Bloom, Tony Kear, said of meeting the most recent Welsh Secretary: “He’s a very nice chap. He was very attentive and he knew about Usk in Bloom because he met some In Bloom volunteers a couple of weeks ago. It was a pleasure to meet him.”

The Conservative candidate for the Monmouth constituency, David Davies, who welcomed Mr Crabb to the town said they both helped plant a plum tree outside the Sessions House.

Mr Davies said: “It was a really good visit. I helped with the watering can. Stephen was the man with the muscle and I provided the water.”

Usk will compete against Bath, Truro, Norton in Hales, Market Bosworth and Filby in the competition.