ISLANDERS are being encouraged to put on their gardening gloves and help make the Isle of Wight bloom this summer.

Applications are now open for the annual Wight in Bloom competition — and organisers Visit Isle of Wight have announced a new headline sponsor.

If you are a keen gardener, there are 11 categories to enter, meaning there is something for every green-fingered enthusiast.

Categories include commercial businesses, tourist attractions, young persons, care-givers, floral, edible and front gardens.

This year’s Wight In Bloom also lays more emphasis on sustainability, which accounts for 20 per cent of the judges’ scoring.

Now is the ideal time to start planting and the deadline to enter the competition is June 5.

The judges will announce the winners at an awards ceremony on July 23, where TV and radio favourite Alan Titchmarsh will present the awards.

Southern Vectis have joined as the headline sponsor this year. The Island’s bus company joins Liz Earle and the Isle of Wight County Press as co-sponsors.

Richard Tyldsley, Southern Vectis general manager said: "As a proud member of the Isle of Wight community, Southern Vectis is always on the look out for worthwhile causes and initiatives to support.

"We are committed to helping make this wonderful part of the UK attractive to locals and to the many visitors we welcome here.

"Wight in Bloom fits tremendously with this ethos, and we’re delighted to be working in partnership with Visit Isle of Wight on this excellent initiative.

"We are the Island’s bus company. Our buses are green in more ways than one — and we want to encourage more people to use sustainable transport. It’s all part of improving the environment around us."

"I’m excited to see the entrants to Wight in Bloom. It would be great to see young people coming through — and for schools to enter.

"Anything that adds even more colour to the Island, in back gardens and allotments, will be superb.

"The Isle of Wight is a very special place, and I’d like to encourage tourists and locals alike to take it all in.

"Look out of the window and see all that this very special place has to offer.

"Even better, travel with us on one of our open-top buses. You’ll be wowed by the views and you may be fortunate enough to see one of the entries — or even one of the potential winners."