The owners of a private garden in the Avenues have raised more than �2,000 for charity in just three days.

Pat and Phil Attard of Littleham House Cottage in Douglas Avenue have been opening their gates on spring Bank Holiday’s since 2006 to raise money for the National Garden Scheme who support local charities.

This year 450 people passed through their gates and now they can donate an impressive �2,188.81 to the various Cancer Care and Nursing charities supported by NGS.

Pat said: “Each year we are staggered by the public support for this venture and this year is no exception.

“We are very grateful to all the people who helped in various ways to make the three days such an enjoyable and successful event.”

She said that opening their garden inevitably involved alot of organisation and weeding to make the garden presentable.

“But we do enjoy it - that’s why we are still getting involved. The sense of community, enjoyment from meeting and talking with like minded people about plants and learning from others is a great joy, as well as the pleasure in being able to help such worthwhile charities and therefore the families and individuals who need their support.

“But without ‘a lot of help from our friends’ we could not possibly achieve what we have over the past six years. “

In total they have raised more than �7,000.