AS millions of people settle down to watch the Olympic Games, Attleborough rose grower Peter Beales can look on with a little more interest than most.For he has sent some of his prize-winning flowers to Beijing to decorate the Olympic village.

BEIJING BOUND: As millions of people have been settling down to watch the Olympic Games, Attleborough rose grower Peter Beales has viewed proceedings with added interest.

For he has sent some of his prizewinning flowers to Beijing to decorate the Olympic village.

They were express-shipped to China in damp packaging so they would arrive fresh, and every single root had to be power-washed to meet China's strict import regulations.

Mr Beales said: "I think ours will be the only roses from England at the games.

The nice thing about roses is that they are a symbol of international friendship, which makes them right for the games."

Last December, staff at the family-run firm, which ships to 50 countries worldwide, worked round the clock to get 1,115 roses of more than 100 varieties shipped to China in 17 large boxes.

Peter Beales roses make up part of a display of about 40m flowers in more than 500 varieties on show in Beijing for the games.