A record crowd attended an annual sale of rare winter flowers at a stately home.

The snowdrop sale at Myddelton House Gardens, in Bulls Cross, saw more than 250 gardening enthusiasts come to purchase rare and unusual snowdrops.

This was the fourth sale and the most successful yet, attracting international visitors from America, the Netherlands, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland.

Andrew Turvey, head gardener of Myddelton House Gardens, said: “I think E.A. Bowles, one of the 20th century’s greatest plantsmen, who lived at Myddelton House, would have been delighted to have had so many keen galanthophiles at Myddelton House Gardens.

“This sale is growing in popularity year on year. Its success stems from being the first big snowdrop sale of the year and we have built a strong reputation for attracting the finest top sellers. Due to the rising popularity of the Ultimate Snowdrop Sale the organisers have confirmed it will be held here for the next four years.”

Two of the most popular snowdrops were Galanthus 'Green Tear' and Galantus 'Chamdlers’ which were both sold by Monksilver Nursery from Cambridge for £100 each.

Next year’s sale will take place on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 10.30am.