A CHARITY has provided a boost to the upkeep of courtyard areas at Airedale Hospital.

The Friends of Airedale have given £5,000 to help maintain the garden spaces.

A storage shed has been bought for each courtyard and the remaining cash is being spent on plants, planters, benches and equipment.

Allison Crocker, senior administrator for facilities at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are very grateful for this fantastic donation, which will help transform our courtyards and keep them looking beautiful all year round.

"We decided to buy the storage sheds as there was nowhere to keep all the tools and other supplies."

A project enabling people to 'adopt' a courtyard was launched 18 months ago, and now all 16 have been taken over by enthusiastic staff and organisations.

Eileen Proud, president of the Friends of Airedale, said: "We are absolutely delighted that the courtyards are being planted up and we're very happy to support this project.

"It is money well spent because it adds to patient comfort and pleasure when they can look out of the windows and see a beautiful garden area."