MORE than £1,500 was raised as crowds flocked to see the rhododendrons at Snow Hall, near Gainford, yesterday.

More than 460 people visited the gardens, in a first time event for Roland Harris and his wife, Paddy.

The couple bought the property, built about 1850, 17 years ago, but only moved there four years ago.

Prior to that they visited each month to work on restoring the two acres of gardens.

Mr Harris, a retired farmer from Oxfordshire, said: "It was a wilderness, but when we started working we found traces of walls, or lines of stones under the grass, and we have used those lines and built on them to create beds and things, and extended paths.

"People were mainly looking at the rhododendrons, azaleas and some other shrubs as well, which we have put in. It has been a really marvellous day."

Proceeds from the event will go to St Mary's Church, in Gainford.