A garden which has opened at a Cockermouth care home has been named after one of its green-fingered former residents.

Bernard Coker, who died aged 97, liked nothing more than being out and about in the garden at Holmewood residential care home on Lamplugh Road.

Before going into the home in 2007, Mr Coker lived in Seaton, where he had a big, well-tended garden. He had no intention of ditching his trowel when he moved, and spent many an hour in the Holmewood garden and greenhouse.

He grew everything from tomatoes and potatoes to leeks, peas and soft fruit, much of which was used in the home's kitchen.

"God forbid if you picked something without his permission," joked manager Mel Gilmore.

"He loved being out and about. When he died (in 2016) the garden became neglected. We wanted to do something with it, make it a place which all our residents could enjoy, with seating and disabled access."

Handyman Mark Fennessey got to work creating a beautiful green space with fruit trees, flowers, shrubs, a lawn, water feature, seating, bird bath and barbecue.

In honour of the previous in-house gardener it was decided to call it Coker's Corner. Daughter Bev Kavanagh, of Blennerhasset, was asked to officially open it.

"I think the garden is fabulous, I was so honoured to be asked to open it," she said.

"My dad would have been absolutely over the moon."

Gardening was a big part of his life.

"He loved gardening, he gave it his best shot even as he grew older," said Bev.

"He loved pottering in the garden or greenhouse and spent many an afternoon under a tree with a cuppa and a newspaper.

"He even went out in the snow, in fact I think they struggled to keep him inside some days!"

Resident Margaret Hoyle, 84, is delighted with the new garden.

"It's wonderful, so beautiful and full of colour. I love this place," she said.

"We had apple pie this week, made with apples from tree, and I had the first steak cooked on the barbecue."