RESIDENTS at a sheltered housing complex have set about improving their communal gardens.

The elderly residents at Cypress Court, Primrose Hill, Stockton, have joined forces with their council and landlord and yesterday a gazebo and water feature were unveiled at a ceremony followed by lunch and strawberry teas.

Stockton Borough Council encouraged the residents to apply for a Community Millennium Grant and they were awarded £500.

The residents raised further funds for the garden by holding a series of coffee mornings, raffles and bring- and-buy sales.

Middlesbrough based B&N Housing, which owns and manages Cypress Court, also contributed £500 towards the purchase and installation of the water feature.

Linda Tierney, scheme warden said: "The residents spend quite a lot of time in the garden and many of them are keen gardeners. They were very excited about the unveiling of the gazebo.