A keen gardener and ambulance technician has persuaded 22 of her neighbours in Great Easton to open their gardens for charity.

The gardens will be open on Sunday, June 19 to raise money for Admiral Nurses who look after patients with dementia.

Rae O’Malley, 55, moved into the village two years ago and said she thought it would be a good way to get to know her neighbours.

Rae said: “I wondered if like minded people would be mad enough to invite strangers into their gardens all in the aid of charity and building on a very much existing community spirit.

“Because of my habit of forgetting everything written on my calendar and being convinced that perhaps one day I might need the Admiral Nurses and also because I am in close contact with a number of relatives and sufferers on a frighteningly large amount of days, I thought this would be a good charity to help.”

She added: “The men in the village are spending their weekends building ponds and decking and their wives are going spend, spend, spend in all the local garden centres.”

There will be teas, strawberries, cakes and Prosecco on sale.

The gardens are all within walking distance. Open noon to 5pm. Entry to all of them for £5. Children free.