VISITORS to a cemetery are benefiting from improved facilities thanks to the efforts of a group of adults with learning disabilities.

The group members have become involved in a project to renovate wooden benches at Stranton Cemetery, Hartlepool, and have now got them looking like new.

Members of Hartlepool Borough Council's Warren Road Social Skills Centre, have been working out of a unit at the town's Brougham Enterprise Centre.

Under the supervision of Neil Forcer, from Hartlepool Day Services, they have been using their skills to strip down the benches and then spruce them up for summer.

Senior link worker Mr Forcer said: "They sand down the benches to remove the moss and lichen that tends to build up over time, apply fresh stain and varnish and then put any memorial plaques back on.

"The project is enabling the men to develop new skills, and knowing that they are providing a valuable service makes them feel valued, too."

Sylvia Tempest, the council's environmental standards manager, said: "Some visitors to the cemetery like to sit and reflect for a while, but the moss and lichen can make the benches damp and leave clothing dirty. By renovating the benches in this way, we are ensuring people have somewhere clean and comfortable to sit.

"I'd like to thank the men for all their efforts, and I'm certainly very impressed by the standard of their work."

Organisations that could benefit from similar renovation schemes are invited to call Mr Forcer on (01429) 282400.