AN Avenues couple who opened up their private garden have raised more than �1,300 for charity.

Pat and Phil Attard opened up their beautiful garden at Littleham House Cottage, Douglas Avenue, on the two May Bank Holiday Sunday’s on behalf of the National Garden Scheme raising cash for cancer and care charities.

Their garden had been featured in the Daily Telegraph, Amateur Gardening and was one of the first to be televised for the BBC2 Open Gardens series hosted by Carol Klein.

This year 300 people from as far afield as France, Bristol and Hertfordshire and a large number of ‘regulars’ passed through their gates spending �115 on plants and �322 on home made teas.

Pat said: “That’s an awful lot cups of tea and slices of cake. Thank you to the 21 volunteers who helped with catering, plant stalls and posters.

“We nearly doubled the number of visitors on May 30 and made a very satisfying profit for the NGS Cancer and Care Charities.

“However, we are very well aware that without the wonderful support of our friends and neighbours, a lot of what we do would not be possible .... so we would like to say how much we appreciated their support whether it was in visiting us, baking cakes, helping on the day or supporting us from afar - all of which contributed to the final result being so successful.”

“The swapping of ideas and information was once again a great pleasure, and seeing people enjoying the sun and our homemade teas whilst sitting around the lawn was a delight. “