A NEW roof-top garden has been laid at a former high-tech factory to make its workforce feel more relaxed.

The sky-high lawn was originally planted for workers at the doomed Siemens factory on Tyneside so they had a relaxing view as they gazed out of their office windows. But the garden has been planted and will be a riot of colour when new owners take over the factory next year.

Siemens closed with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs a year after it was opened, but computer company Atmel is about to take over.

Alan Mulley led the team from JMS Landscapes when the garden was laid on top of the Siemens restaurant.

He said: "The idea was that workers would feel happier if they were looking out on to a bit of greenery.