The committee of Wem's popular Eckford Sweet Pea Society have confirmed the 2019 show will be the last competitive event they will hold to mark 30 years.

Following the group's 2018 Annual General Meeting, held last week, the committee stated that an attempt to attract young members has not worked as well as hoped.

But it moved to allay fears it was giving up completely and promises it will still continue to support the sweet pea.

The statement said: "The Society agreed that its next year's show will be the last competitive one.

"For many years, we have been attempting to get younger members to help with the organising and staging of our show without any success.

"Next year we have been holding a very successful annual show in July for 30 years and feel that we should go out on a high.

"We would like to extend our very grateful thanks to Wem Town Council, Thomas Adams School, all our sponsors, advertisers, members, helpers and supporters without who we would have not kept on going for so long.

"We are not disbanding as a society and will be promoting the Grandiflora (old-fashioned) sweet pea developed in Wem by Henry Eckford whenever possible at local events and larger shows."