THE newly refurbished Plymouth Road Memorial Gardens have been officially opened.

Redditch Mayor Diane Thomas was guest of honour at the ceremony - one of her final civic duties before handing over her mayoral chains.

The council has carried out extensive work in the gardens over recent months, including landscaping, tree planting and ironwork improvements in a bid to restore them to their post-war glory.

Members of the Royal British Legion, including Peter Styler (pictured above) , as well as residents living near the gardens, also attended the opening on Friday, May 12.

The council's capital landscape project manager, Carl Walker, said: "Redditch Council is proud to have improved Plymouth Road Memorial Gardens for residents.

"They will provide a fitting tribute to the people remembered there as well as an attractive feature for the town which visitors can enjoy."