Littlehampton's secret garden hailed by TV star Chris

Members of the Norfolk Gardens (East) Residents’ Association spent hours preparing their communal garden’s flowerbeds for judging in the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ section of the annual South and South-East in Bloom competition.

Chris, known for tending the Blue Peter garden and more recently, Channel Five’s Big Brother garden, was touring the region on behalf of sponsor Southern Water, with the water company’s senior public relations manager Beverley Thompson.

He said: “I like this garden because it is very traditional and I’m from Brighton Park, so I’m a big fan of bedding. People might say that it’s a bit old-fashioned but it looks great and has fantastic colour.”

Volunteer Hazel Lingard said she loved watering the garden, especially at night, when it was quiet.

She added that the area had turned into a secret ‘community hub’ among the neighbours who live near the garden.

The association now has to wait until September 11, when the results will be announced at an Oscar-style awards ceremony in Tunbridge Wells.