FORMER Saints star Matt Le Tissier has officially launched Valley Park in Bloom 2015.

He was joined by Valley Park Parish Council chief Alan Dowden and pupils from Knightwood and St Francis primary schools in the community which borders Chandler's Ford.

This year the parish council has provide 300 hanging baskets filled with assorted flowers along with 12 planting troughs and two barrels with summer blooms and there have been scattered across the community which was judged the best place to live in England and Wales in 2015.

Mr Dowden said it was an honour to have Matt launch the competition.

"Matt stepped into the breach because Victor Wanyama could not make any public appearance 48 hours before a match due to club rules.

"Matt was very good and he signed autographs for the children and a few members of the public who turned up for the launch.

"I do appreciate Matt coming along because he puts so much in to the community where he lives. He's really great.

"Our floral displays make Valley Park very special and people really appreciate them.

"Getting the children involved help them to appreciate the environment they live in and they also learn about the plants," said Mr Dowden who with the help of the community's school children has overseen the planting of 1,400 spring bulbs over the last 15 years.