When the 78-year-old moved into the house in Hardie Drive, West Boldon, the soil was poisoned and the keen gardener couldn't even grow any flowers.

But the dad-of-three, who lives alone, resoiled the garden and started building up an army of blooms.

The former cemetery superintendent for South Tyneside Council said: "When I first moved in, there was nothing but a patch of grass, and when I found out the land was poisoned I couldn't believe it.

"But it was going to be a good project for me, so I was excited. It took me years to get the goodness back into the soil.

"I've been through so many different phases over the years, and I'm always changing the plants, depending on what mood I'm in at the time.

"I spend a lot of time in there, and I still love working in it.
"I started gardening when I was 14, so if I didn't enjoy it after 64 years, then I'd start to worry."

His biggest project over the years has been his pond, which took him three years to build.

Speaking about his labour of love, he added: "It took me so long to do the pond.

"I dug a huge hole to start with, then gradually built it, but it's not my favourite part of my garden – that would be my pear tree in the greenhouse. I love eating the fruit."

* Prizes worth hundreds of pounds 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 reporter Andy Hughes on 427 4851, or e-mail him here.

You can also write to: Gazette Glorious Gardens, c/o Andy Hughes, 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.