A colourful and creative way to give a special outdoor space for people who need to find support has been created in Carlisle.

A special area of Carlisle is set to help cheer up an alleyway and make way for a community garden with a project, created by PiNC, the LGBT youth group.

So far, the brightly decorated corner, located at the LGBT headquarters on Victoria Place, has drag-inspired planters and blooming flowers giving a splash of colour to the hidden garden.

Hoping to create a social and safe environment Pam Eland, who is leading the project, said: “We wanted to cheer up the area and have now got our own Pansy Patch.

“We had some money from Children in Need and Lottery and we’re using it as part of outreach. Having a space like this is really important, it helps bring people together.”

Over the last few months, the group has been exploring different ways to keep in contact and help members of the community in different ways.

Shge added: “We want to develop the area and since we started the work our neighbours have all commented about how well it looks and have even asked us to decorate the backs of their businesses.

“We’re hoping we will be able to decorate all our planters to resemble drag queens we have and help us create a living gallery.

“We’ve not been able to raise money as we do normally and we’re appealing for help and support to keep our garden growing. We’re pleading with people to donate plants, soil and time.

“We really want people to be able to walk along the lane with their families and see some of the amazing things we’re doing.”

An informal meet-up that welcomes anyone who wants to 'come and socialise, dig, design, plant and say hello' take place Thursdays between 2.30pm and 5.30pm at the HQ on Victoria Place.