A former Yorkshire in Bloom award winner, the garden of Clow Beck, opens to the public on Sunday.

The garden covers one-and-a-half acres and includes a tranquil stream, herbaceous borders and an ornamental Victorian potager.

The children's playground is guaranteed to keep younger visitors entertained for hours on end.

The garden opens at 2pm, with refreshments provided throughout the afternoon, and some decoratively laden plant stalls offering bargain-priced blooms.

And for those preferring a little brain-teasing, the giant chessboard is bound to spark more than a few duels during the afternoon.

Cash raised will go to the Red Cross.

Clow Beck is located in Croft, near Darlington, where the A167 from Darlington to Croft- on-Tees guides you to the brown directional signs to Clow Beck House.