A SECRET garden opened to the public for the first time today (Thursday, May 23) to raise money for the homeless.

Milly Stoney, 68, opened her garden in aid of Darlington’s 700 Club charity in a bid to raise enough money to equip bedrooms at a new homeless facility.

Mrs Stoney, a board member of the 700 Club, said the charity would use the money raised to buy 20 duvets and 40 pillows for 20 bedrooms, set to open in June.

Visitors to Chatwyn House, Hurworth, enjoyed tea, coffee and homemade biscuits in the garden, which featured a vegetable plot and a wide range of plants and flowers.

“This garden is the work of a couple in retirement”, she said.

“It has never been open to the public and at the moment is ‘at its best’, thanks to the poor weather.”

Visitors also took part in a raffle and a tortoise hunt, with the winner receiving a pack of sunflower seeds.

Mrs Stoney said: “I wanted to support the 700 Club because it is a Darlington charity for Darlington people. I think very often it is having a home and somewhere to live and people around you who are supportive and caring that enable people to get their lives together.

“Home is a terribly important place. If you have not got anywhere to call your home, you are regarded as not part of society. We are concerned about people all over the world without homes but people more locally have the same problems.”