SUNDAY'S searing heat did not stop a group of volunteers rolling up their sleeves and digging in to help a charity in South Oxhey.

Volunteers from St Andrew's Church in Chorleywood turned out in force to help clear space for a garden at the Industrial Therapy Organisation (ITO) in Northwick Road.

Volunteer Jo Trevor said: "It is part of our Christian ethos to get out and give practical help to our local community, I offered our groups help and the Three Rivers Volunteer Bureau put us in touch with the ITO, who needed help to create a garden for their clients."

ITO provides training for individuals with special needs, including poor mental health and learning difficulties.

Sue Tilbury, operations manager, said "The objectives are to promote self respect and dignity through work for our people who do work very hard, and I thought it would be great for them to have a nice space to relax in while on breaks.

"Thanks to Jo and her volunteers who had the back-breaking job of clearing the worst of it, we can now start designing, and by the end of the summer we should have a garden and will be celebrating with a barbecue for the all our clients."

The organisation is looking for volunteers to help the clients with their work, and someone with DIY skills who can pop in occasionally to make the communal areas more pleasant for the clients.

Three Rivers Volunteer Bureau is also keen to match more groups of volunteers to community projects. For more information telephone 01923 711174.