SCHOOL children spent the day tidying a war memorial garden ahead of Remembrance Day thanks to a grant.

The North of England Royal Horticulture Society donated £500 to the Save Our Soldier Appeals Committee, in Coundon, near Bishop Auckland.

Youngsters from both Victoria Lane Academy and St Joseph’s RCVA Primary School took time to plant new flowers in the garden today (Tuesday, October 21) with help from gardeners from Durham County Council.

Committee chairwoman Stefa McManners applied for the £500 funding.

She said: “We are refurbishing the garden as it is a few years since we did this. It helps the children understand and learn about the war memorial.

“I think people in the village are really proud of the memorial and like to look after it.

“We are really grateful to the Royal Horticulture Society for sponsoring us, which has allowed us to do the work.”

The village war memorial, situated at the junction of Wharton Street and Church Street, commemorates the people who have died in both World Wars and other conflicts since.

The original soldier was first dedicated in 1921 until decay and deterioration caused it to be removed for safety reasons in the 1960s.

It was then the committee was launched and a campaign saw a newly sculptured soldier erected and re-dedicated in 2007.