A TOTAL of 719 people attended the first ever Skelton Open Gardens day recently helping to raise more than £5,000 for the Skelton Villages Civic Pride (SVCP) fund.

Eight gardens were open over the weekend of June 27 and 28 including the gardens at Skelton Castle, a Grade I-listed 18th Century house built on the grounds of what was once a medieval castle.

Organiser Linda Danby said: "We would like to thank the members of the public who came along over the weekend and who so generously supported this new venture. And our thanks go to all the owners of the gardens and their volunteer helpers for all their hard work beforehand and also over the weekend."

She added that a total profit of £5,213 for SVCP was made for funds and a large proportion of this money will be used as match funding for our Skelton Townscape Heritage Initiative which is being progressed through the Heritage Lottery Fund, in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Tees Valley Rural Community Council. She explained that progress was also on-going in preparing a community Community Garden and Orchard.

SVCP hold a coffee morning every Monday from 9.30am to 11.00pm in the Civic Hall in the village and all are welcome.