YOUNG volunteers from the Prince’s Trust have renovated the communal garden at a sheltered housing scheme.

The ten-strong group, which meets at the Brockwell Centre in Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street, took part in a bike ride from Consett to Sunderland and raised £200 to buy new plants, paint and compost for the garden at Shelley Court, Pelton Fell, which is owned by Cestria Community Housing.

The 18 and 19-year-olds raised sponsorship money from friends and family for the 25-mile ride.

Then they spent three days tidying up the garden, putting in the new plants and painting the decking and plant pots, to the delight of the scheme’s 25 residents.

Their efforts have helped to transform the garden into a much-loved space for the residents.

Local Prince’s Trust group leader Dean Elder said: “Our group is always looking for new ways we can put the skills and enthusiasm of its young people to good use and we try particularly hard to help local causes where we can.

“I spoke to Shelley Court’s residents group to see if there was anything we could help with and they identified the garden as needing a bit of a makeover. We were only too happy to help.”

Mark Shaw, Cestria’s Sheltered Housing co-ordinator, said: “The hard work and kindness of this group of young people has made a real difference to the garden area at Shelley Court.

"It’s also done wonders for relations between the generations in this local community. It’s brought two groups of very different ages together and been an opportunity for each to learn to value the other.”