HAXBY Memorial Hall has a new garden and family-friendly waiting area thanks to a charity dedicated to making a difference.

Volunteers from HSBC bank transformed a disused space at the side of the hall into the waiting area-cum-garden as part of their commitment to York Cares - which The Press also supports.

On Sunday, the volunteers from the Haxby and York branches of the bank put the finishing touches to the garden with help from Simpson's Construction and Deans Garden Centre.

Together they landscaped the area and through a number of fundraising events raised the £200 needed to buy plants and seating equipment.

Tina Callard-Hull, a trustee at Haxby Memorial Hall said: "The new garden area will benefit our regular user groups and all the local organisations that use the hall as a venue for plays, concerts, exhibitions, fundraising events and parties. The trust is delighted York Cares has been able to arrange for HSBC to work on this project.

"This new garden area will make such a difference by smartening up the main entrance of the hall and by providing a pleasant outside waiting area for all those that use the hall."

York Cares promotes volunteering to people at work and 15 local employers have provided more than 1,000 volunteers to support 150 organisations over the past three years. For details, phone 01904 433482 or email info@yorkcares.co.uk