A MULTI-SENSORY garden is being created in the grounds of a Durham hospital for elderly patients with mental problems.

The garden, next to Holmdale Villa at Earls House Hospital, will stimulate patients' senses, such as sight and smell, which help bring back memories.

It will also provide a safe environment where patients can wander or relax with their relatives.

The garden is being created by horticultural teams from East Durham and Houghall Community College's Houghall campus, on the outskirts of the city.

Funding for the project has come from the County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust, which runs Earls House, the Friends of Durham Hospitals, and the Alzheimer's Society.

Angela Ballatti, chairwoman of the trust, said: "The gardening teams from Houghall are doing a wonderful job of transforming a plot of uncultivated land into a fabulous multi- sensory garden.

"The new garden will be an attractive area that will provide stimulation for older patients with mental health problems and a safe area where patients and relatives can relax.

"The trust would like to thank everyone involved in developing the garden, especially staff at Holmdale Villa, the Friends of Durham Hospitals and the Alzheimer's Society, for their support.''

A tree-planting ceremony was held on Thursday to mark the start of the work.

The ceremony was carried out by Mrs Ballatti, Valerie Richardson, chairwoman of the Friends of Durham Hospitals, and Jennifer Brown of the Alzheimer's Society.