The 54-year-old has suffered a catalogue of injuries and conditions, including skin cancer, a bone disease in his ankle and a serious spine condition.

But that doesn't stop the cheery grandad working on his garden in Windermere Crescent, Jarrow.

Mr Bone only started getting into gardening after an accident in 2000, when he slipped and broke his ankle.

The injury triggered a bone disease, and when he was diagnosed with a spine condition, he had to give up fishing.

But Mr Bone found a new hobby when he moved in with partner, Linda Stewart, 64.

As he has skin cancer, Mr Bone can only work on his plants while the sun is in.

Mr Bone, nominated for the Gazette's Glorious Gardens competition at the request of his grand-daughters, Erin, four, and Ella, three, said: "I always try and fit in half an hour in the morning, before the sun comes out.

"I used to spend six hours at a time fishing, but because of my problems, I find it a bit too strenuous, so gardening is my new hobby.

"It took a while, but I've been getting into it more and more. I'm still a novice really, but my family entered me without knowing."

* 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 gazette.news@northeast-press.co.uk

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.