SUDELEY Castle attracts visitors from all over the UK and overseas - but there's more to this Gloucestershire treasure than its ancient fortress.

For Sudeley is home to a unique collection of roses - which are now bursting into glorious bloom.

The wonderful collection of traditional and historical roses are always a huge attraction with tourists.

Roses have been growing at Sudeley for at least 400 years but it is in more recent times that the castle has developed its now-famous rose collection.

When Lady Ashcombe moved to the castle over 20 years ago she led a major transformation of the gardens, especially with roses.

Years of carefully orchestrated plantings and replantings has brought about the remarkable variety and the stunning displays of roses on show today.

Some very early species have been successfully planted and visitors to Sudeley Castle can enjoy the wonderful scent of a variety of historical roses such as the Tudor favourite, the bi-coloured Rosa Mundi rose - a flower that perhaps Katherine Parr enjoyed as she wandered around the gardens in the days when Sudeley was her home.

The highly scented Roseraie de l'Hay, growing gracefully around the Tithe barn, is another old rose that has long been a favourite.

Sudeley has over 80 different species of beautiful roses, and while not all have such a long history, every variety is magnificent in its own way.

Pink, white, red, yellows, bi-colours - roses in the widest range of shades and colours are grown at Sudeley and include the most popular and well known names to rare and unusual plants such as the wild roses from China.

There really is something for everyone.

The wonderful gardens at Sudeley Castle are open right through the summer months.

The Sudeley Castle gardening team have a few tips that help bring out the best in their roses.

For instance, when a climber starts shooting at the top but not the bottom, the stems are given a small twist at a low level.

This helps the buds to break out lower down.

And there's also Sudeley Castle Rose Week from June 23 to 29 when visitors can wander amongst the roses and enjoy daily talks, practical demonstrations, guided tours and selected discounts in Sudeley's own Plant Centre.

FACTFILE The Gardens at Sudeley Castle, in Winchcombe, near Cheltenham, are open every day between 10.30am and 5.30pm. Admission costs: adults £5; concessions £4 and children £2.75 (admission on Sundays and Bank Holidays until August 31 is: adults £6; concessions £5 and children £3.75).

For more information, please call Sudeley Castle on 01242 602308. You can also visit the website at www.sudeleycastle.co.uk