A FRIENDLY spirit is lending a pub landlord a hand to create the spectacular hanging baskets outside his premises.

Frank O'Neill, landlord of the Forester's Arms, in Coatham Mundeville, near Darlington, has been tending hanging baskets at the pub since he took over the business nine years ago.

As reported in The Northern Echo last year, the resident ghost is a nun who appears in the cellar of the pub.

Now Mr O'Neill says the apparition is helping him to tend his plants.

He said: "Last year's plants were not as good because of the rain but this year they are fantastic.

"Every time I am outside the pub I hear people commenting on them.

"The best thing is I don't have to water them because the ghost does all that for me!

"When I go to give them a water they have always already been done."

Although Mr O'Neill and his wife, Sheila, just create their hanging baskets for fun, their floral display may have inspired the Britain In Bloom judges when they came to judge Darlington's entry last week.