BRITAIN’S oldest rose farm has erupted in a riot of colour three weeks early – because of the drought.

About 40,000 roses are in full bloom at Cants Farm, in Mile End, Colchester.

The flurry of flora is due to the drought in the south east of England, which has made conditions perfect for the flowers.

Roger Pawsey, who owns the farm, said it was the earliest his roses had flowered in 35 years.

He said: “Usually about now we would just be opening our fields to the public, but we have been open for two or three weeks.

“We are having to advance most of our work.”

He continued: “Roses are one of the few plants that do well without much rain as they are deep-rooted, but the last few days of wet weather have made them look even better.

“We’ve had lots of compliments from visitors saying how amazing our roses look this year.”

Visitors to the 245-year-old business have not just been complimenting the farm on the spectacle of the three acres of roses.

Mr Pawsey, who owns the business with siblings Martin and Angela, added: “Our customers say they smell wonderful.

“Sales have remained buoyant too.

“Winter killed a lot of plants. People have looked at their garden and said, ‘I have lost this and that, but roses are doing well, I will grow roses’.”

The rose plants at Cants are dug up in October for people to replant in their gardens.

England and Wales has had the second driest spring since 1910 and the driest since 1990, according the Met Office, with East Anglia the worst hit.

Parts of the region are already officially in drought, which means farmers are restricted on the water they can take from rivers.