AN army of volunteers who transformed a Clayton-le-Moors wasteland into a beautiful community garden have now won a prestigious award.

Harrington Street Community Garden has been awarded a Level 3 certificate in the Royal Horticultural Society ‘Britain in Bloom It's Your Neighbourhood’ Awards.

The ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ awards are the prizes given to volunteer-lead community gardens that have a ‘life-changing and far-reaching’ effect on the local area.

Environmental charity Prospects teamed up with Mercer House 1842 and together with a team of dedicated volunteers, transformed the ground.

Alison Mercer, community development worker at Mercer House 1842, said: “It’s thrilling to win this award and have our work recognised.

“It was just a wasteland before and it’s taken 12 months to get it looking the way it does now. It was totally back breaking labour, getting rid of all the shrubs and over grown weeds but it was worth it. The garden now is absolutely glorious.

“There are beautiful raised flower beds and patches for growing vegetables and herbs that residents can plant and use in their home cooking.”

Coun Nick Collingridge said: “Prospects foundation, Mercer House 1842 and local residents have really worked hard to turn the land into a successful food growing area and people are chomping at the bit to have a raised bed at the Harrington Street site - there’s a waiting list now.”

Julie Livesey from the Prospects Foundation said: “It is a well-deserved award and a double celebration for Hyndburn as Inward House also received a level 3 award for the St James House Garden in Accrington.”