GREEN-FINGERED residents opened up their gardens to the public to raise thousands of pounds for St Helena Hospice.

The annual open gardens event in Brightlingsea was hailed as a success, despite wet weather.

A series of scarecrows also made appearances around the town as part of the annual festival, which has been running for 24 years.

The Brightlingsea St Helena Hospice support group organise the event and spokesman Mary Goggin said: “It seemed there was not as many people because of the weather but the rain made everything look absolutely beautiful.”

Final fundraising totals are still being counted but the event is expected to raise more than £5,000.