Dorchester has been filled with sunflowers this summer, adorned in the street, in shop windows, in gardens and more to raise money for two worthy charities.

The Summer of Sunflowers has brightened up the town and brought smiles to both residents and visitors' faces, as well as raising money for Dorset County Hospital's Kingfisher Children's Unit and Cherkasy Hospital in Ukraine.

For the Summer of Sunflowers, Dorchester Town Council commissioned local artist Claire Nutall to create huge aerial sunflowers that have been suspended across South Street, Maiden Castle Farm brought back the spectacular Dorset Sunflower Trail on the outskirts of the town and council gardeners also incorporated different varieties of sunflower into the beds in the Borough Gardens. In addition to this, more than 40 shops, museums and cafes across the town have also created sunflower-themed window displays.

Hazel Hoskin from Maiden Castle Farm judged the window displays this week and the winners are:

First place - Vinyl Van in Brewery Square

Vinyl Van hated, cut and shaped vinyl records to create sunflowers for its window. These were accompanied by sunflower-themed record sleeves to create a spectacular and fun window.

Second place - The Posh Partridge café on High West Street

The Posh Partridge worked with students from Portesham Primary School to create the main sunflowers in its window display. These are supplemented by other homemade sunflower decorations made by customers, creating a beautiful assortment of sunflowers.

Third place - Fudges Wool shop on Durngate Street

Fudges Wool shop created a window display showcasing amazing skills with hand crocheted, knitted and woven sunflowers. The time and care that had gone into creating this window is clear to see.

Helen Moody from Vinyl Van said: "Sunflowers have always been a favourite flower of mine so it has been lovely to be able to make the window display and have more flowers up in the store.

"We have enjoyed getting involved in Dorchester's Summer of Sunflowers, it has been brilliant to see the town looking so bright and welcoming and to raise money for such worthy causes."

Hazel Hoskin from Maiden Castle Farm said: "I am blown away by the creativity of businesses in Dorchester and Poundbury taking part in the Summer of Sunflowers. The local involvement has been outstanding, with many schools and community groups being involved in making the window decorations.

"Thank you to everyone for inspiring sunflower themed smiles for people that walk by and raising important funds for our two chosen charities."

The Go Fund Me page is still live if anyone would like to donate to the fundraiser. Visit gofund.me/eacdafbe