Among the many different flowers and plants in their colourful back garden lies a patch specially dedicated to growing their own vegetables.

And just as their juicy tomatoes and potatoes are ready for picking, the pair have entered themselves in the Gazette's Glorious Gardens competition.

The couple moved to their home in Harton Rise, South Shields, when Mr Winter, 73, retired as manager of a furniture shop in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, seven years ago.

Mrs Winter, 71, said: "We've always been passionate about gardening, and we had to completely revamp the garden when we first moved.

"But it's been a nice project for us both after we retired. A lot of money and time has gone into it.

"We spend more time working on it than relaxing in it because the weather is always so bad.

"But when the sun comes out, we get in there. We just wish it would come out more often."

The garden also provides one of the most anticipated competitions of the year, well, it does for the Winter family anyway.

They have a yearly race to see who can grow the biggest cucumber.

Mrs Winter added: "We do it every year for a laugh, although Harry always seems to win, and he's winning again this year as well.

"One year he managed to grow one 34 inches long."