The 65-year-old doesn't have much room in her small back yard at the Aged Miners Homes in Marsden Road, South Shields, but what little room she does have, she fills up with flamboyant, eye-catching plants.

The mum-of-four waited 20 years to get a garden after living in a flat.

She and husband Richard moved into the bungalow in 2004, but Mr Murray died from cancer four weeks after moving in.

Mrs Murray, who was nominated by her family for the Gazette's Glorious gardens competition, said: "It was only after Richard died that I started getting into gardening.

"It was really tough learning how to adjust. My other hobby is line dancing, so I spend most of my time doing one or the other.

"My family always help me out as well. I just love plants, as you can see. I've got loads of different books and I'm learning more all the time.

"Although I think I've run out of space now, my neighbours always tell me I'm going to need to start planting on my roof."

The grandmother-of-14, who used to work at a fish and chip shop at the Nook, is a well known face on her street, and her colourful garden always gets people talking.

She added: "I'm in the garden as soon as the sun comes out. When people walk past, they always start a conversation with me.

"It's been a really good way of meeting people. The best part about my garden is that it seems to give other people pleasure, as well as me."

* Hundreds of pounds' worth of prizes are up for grabs for our eventual winner and two runners-up.

Our prizes include a £300 shed, courtesy of Timberline, for the winner.
The second-placed runner-up will receive a £50, two-burner gas barbecue from B&Q, and the third prize is a £25 Asda voucher.

To enter your garden or nominate someone else's, call the news desk on 427 4858, or e-mail us here.

You can also write to: Gazette Glorious Gardens, c/o News Desk, The Shields Gazette, Chapter Row, South Shields, NE33 1BL, or fill in a form online here.
Don't forget to include the entrant's name, address and telephone number.