SIR Simon and Lady Mary Towneley opened their garden at Dyneley Hall, Cliviger, to visitors.

The event was to raise money for the Lancashire branch of British Red Cross, of which keen gardener Lady Towneley is president.

The sun shone for the 160 or so visitors who paid £3 each to enjoy the gardens after the heavy showers of previous days.

The British Red Cross open garden scheme in Lancashire is sponsored by Cheshire Building Society.

David Bollenberg, community fund-raising co-ordinator for British Red Cross described the Dyneley garden as a real treat to suit many tastes. He added: "All the proceeds from the garden scheme go a long way to helping people in crisis in local communities and abroad."

The Lancashire branch garden scheme is in its first season and there are 200 gardens in the scheme for the year 2000.