THE Bishop of Durham paid a visit to hard-working residents’ association volunteers to celebrate the creation of a new community garden.

Work on the garden began in December 2014 when the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Sue Snowdon, planted the first rose bush in front of the Anglican Church in Medomsley, near Consett.

Since then, the village resident’s association and volunteers from local schools have worked tirelessly to transform the overgrown plot of land into the heart of the Medomsley community.

The Right Reverend Paul Butler’s visit marks the completion of the second stage of the project.

He was invited to bury a time capsule in the garden, containing information from the church, the Residents Association, nearby schools, and local councillors who have supported the project.

Ann English, from Medomsley Residents’Association, said: “It was a beautiful day and we’re so glad Bishop Paul came to bless the garden.

“The people who have come and helped have been amazing. People from the local community would walk past and see what we were doing and then come back with plants ready for us to put in.

“We’re hoping the garden will be finished by the summer holidays in time for the Northumbria In Bloom gardening competition.”

More funding is required to complete the garden and any donations should be made to the Medomsley Village Residents Association.