ALL eyes will be on London this summer when the action gets under way at the 2012 Olympics.

But the sporting spectacle is already providing inspiration much closer to home.

Historic St Botolph's church in North Cove held its annual flower festival over the bank holiday weekend with an Olympics Games theme.

It included 20 colourful floral arrangements that featured rackets, a rowing doll, a bicycle wheel – and one colourful creation based on the five Olympic rings.

The sport-themed arrangements proved to be a winner for organisers as they raised more than �2,600 to help cover running and insurance costs at St Botolph's and neighbouring St John the Baptist church in Barnby.

As well as donations, a raffle stall was run throughout the festival by 93-year-old Stella Tooley and Margaret Harmer. There were also stalls selling books, plants, paintings and hand-made cards.

Judy Thacker, chairman of the church fund-raising committee, said: 'We have had a count up and we have raised �2,648. Considering the weather and the state of the economy, that is very good, I think.

'The flower arrangements were very good. Everyone had pulled out all the stops to create them.'

The festival also saw the introduction of the church's new tent which was purchased using a grant awarded by Suffolk county councillor, Chris Punt. It enabled stall-holders to remain dry – unlike in previous years when they had to sit under whatever shelter the church could offer when old tents and gazebos blew away.

The church, which has a number of medieval paintings, also hosted an exhibition over the bank holiday of 39 paintings by children at Barnby Primary School.