A 74 year old pensioner who transformed a small disused patio area at his North Lanarkshire sheltered housing complex into an impressive garden producing everything from potatoes and leeks to tomatoes and strawberries is celebrating another successful season.

Green-fingered Phil Salina, who has lived at Hanover Scotland’s Baillie Court in Motherwell for over 10 years, only started the garden five years ago after he and another resident decided to make use of a small empty patio space outside their housing complex. With little experience or knowledge of growing fruit or vegetables, the pair sourced containers and compost and “just started digging”.

Most weeks between March and September, Mr Salina sets up a table full of his fresh fruit and vegetables in Baillie Court’s communal living area for his friends and neighbours to enjoy. All he asks is for a small donation to help towards the cost of containers, compost and seeds.