CASH raised from a North Yorkshire open garden will be travelling very far to help those in need.

Thornton-le-Dale resident Jennie Green has proved she really is green-fingered with all the hard work put into her garden.

Mrs Green will be throwing open her garden gate on Sunday to raise funds for a tiny island school in the Gambia, West Africa.

Jinack primary school is desperately short on space for its ever-expanding classes, and Mrs Green hopes to gather enough cash to build four new classrooms for the children.

She said: "It's a tiny island. We went to visit when a friend moved there.

"I was a teacher and I was appalled at what I saw in the mud-walled school.

"For the last few years we have been getting them money for books and pencils so the parents don't have to buy them, because the only things the government pays for are the teachers."

Mrs Green said the cash would go towards buying materials for the new classrooms, which the villagers themselves have promised to build.

"We thought opening the garden would be a good way of getting some money," she said.

"I collect old fashioned agricultural implements like carts and mangle crushers, and they are out in the garden with flowers planted in."

Pinfold Cottage, Brook Lane, Thornton-le-Dale, near Pickering, will be open from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday and entry costs £2, including cream tea.

Updated: 09:11 Wednesday, July 23, 2003