A GARDEN party with a wartime feel has been held to celebrate a North-East college’s 70th birthday.

Finchale Training College, near Newton Hall in Durham, staged the event on Saturday.

Beginning in 1943 as a rehabilitation centre for injured servicemen during the Second World War, Finchale has provided rehabilitation and training for ex-military for 70 years.

A former hotel, it was transformed to a hospital for men returning from war with physical, mental and emotional disabilities.

The college has retained its links with the Armed Forces and works closely with other service charities such as, the Soldier’s Charity, the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families Association, The Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes.

Finchale now also works with adults with a range of disabilities and difficult life experiences.

Finchale’s head of administration and finance Tony Ford said: “The 1940’s Garden Party was a great day for our students, staff and the local community.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to bring together everything Finchale is renowned for, our students, our wonderful history and our beautiful plant centre.

“Perhaps more significantly, as a registered charity, this event is integral to ensure Finchale remains for the future.”

One of Finchale’s oldest and most succesful training programmes is its horticulture training, which provides therapy for students, gives them the chance to sell their work to customers.