CELEBRITY gardener Charlie Dimmock sprang a surprise on an East Lancashire couple -- to check if they were keeping their garden in order.

Carol and Bernard O'Brien were TV stars themselves when BBC's Ground Force team transformed their Great Harwood garden last June.

Described by the show's handyman Tommy Walsh as a "bomb site", the couple's Hesketh Court back garden was given a massive make-over, turning it into the garden of their dreams.

And in keeping with the show's format, Charlie Dimmock was back at the house, checking the couple had not let it to go to ruin.

By pretending they were needed next door for a Radio Four interview, the television crew managed to sneak up at the house undetected.

Carol, 42, a beauty therapist lecturer at Accrington and Rossendale College, said: "We heard someone shouting over the garden fence and it was Charlie Dimmock and a film crew.

"We have been keeping the garden up to scratch, working on it every other weekend, but we have just come back from holiday and not had chance to cut the lawn for more than two weeks.

That could have been better but Charlie said she was very pleased with what she saw."

By the time the Ground Force team had finished with the garden it had been transformed into an idyllic haven, lined with trees, ornaments and of course the water feature.

Although Carol described the garden as "high-maintenance", she said looking after it was a pleasure rather than a chore.

And others could soon enjoy the delights after the Red Cross approached the couple regarding its open garden programme later this year.

If the couple agree, visitors can make donations to visit the garden with all monies raised going to the charity.

Charlie Dimmock's latest visit will be on television later this year.