OWNERS of beautiful gardens in and around Broadway are being urged to throw open their gates to raise cash for St Richard's Hospice.

The Broadway, Badsey and Willersey fund-raising volunteer group also urgently needs more helpers to swell its ranks.

Chairperson Chrissy Styles from Willersey said: "We would love someone in or near Broadway to let us use their garden for a strawberry cream tea afternoon, probably on the last Saturday in June."

She explained that the six volunteers work hard each year to raise cash by holding coffee mornings, sales, and cream teas in the summer.

The next event is to be held on Monday, June 3, when members will be manning two stalls in a car boot sale at Dumbleton Hall.

Mrs Styles, who moved from the Birmingham area about three years ago, was already a hospice fund-raiser when she arrived at Willersey.

She said: "When my mother was dying we knew nothing about the wonderful work hospices do. Although she died with dignity, it was not how we would have liked. That's why I help raise money for hospices - they do such an excellent job."

For further details about joining the fund-raisers, or anyone who has bric-a-brac or old linen to donate to the car boot sale, contact Mrs Styles on 01386 882677.