RESIDENTS at an old people's home have dug their way to victory in a county-wide gardening competition.

A group of residents at Moor Grange Residential Home in Spennymoor were appalled by the state of the home's courtyard, which was repeatedly vandalised. They were so annoyed that two years ago they decided to form their own gardening club to make improvements.

Since then, they have created a sensory garden with colourful flowers and wind chimes, hanging baskets and a vegetable plot.

The gardening club members did all the work from the research and planning of the garden to weeding and watering.

Now all the residents enjoy sitting in the garden, or sampling some of the organic vegetables which the gardening club supplies to the home's kitchen.

The club members' hard work paid off recently when they fought off stiff competition from 14 other Durham County Council residential homes to win the Garden of the Year award in the CREATE Homes in Bloom competition.

They were also awarded the Gardener of the Year title.

Julie Watson, who works at the home, said: "We are delighted. All the residents are very enthusiastic about the garden, and the gardening club's success is well-deserved.

"Working in the garden is excellent stimulation, and everyone enjoys sharing their gardening experience and memories."

The independent judges were very impressed with the standard. One said: "We just had to acknowledge this amazing, lively and interesting group of people who simply bowled us over with their enthusiasm and ideas.

"What an experience, talking to them and listening to how they put their ideas into practice."