A BARE back yard has been transformed thanks to a Darlington resident’s success in a garden makeover competition.

Tony Rochester, of Rosalyn Street, won the makeover as part of a competition by Groundwork North East and Cumbria who have been running a pilot project in his neighbourhood.

The Project Downpour pilot encourages residents to use water butts and planters to collect water and help alleviate the flash flooding problems experienced on some streets in the Victoria Embankment area.

Mr Rochester embraced the scheme, installing a water butt to collect water from his roof, and his name was chosen out of the many residents who responded to a Groundwork questionnaire about the project.

After scooping the £500 prize, his spartan back yard was transformed by a Groundwork Galvanise team, with decking, planting areas and new seating installed at a total cost of £1,000.

Lisa Locke, Groundwork programme co-ordinator, praised Mr Rochester and other residents for embracing Project Downpour and said it has encouraged people to care more about their local environment and their back gardens and yards.

She said: “It has been a great success; not everybody has claimed a water butt, but if anything it has raised awareness, it has got residents talking to each other and doing other things than just having a water butt installed.”

The project was set up by ward councillor Paul Harman who wanted something done about flash flooding in Bedford Street and he warned that climate change will lead to more torrential rain overwhelming the drains and causing floods.

Project Downpour is funded by the Northumbria Regional Flood committee to raise awareness of flood risks.