Former Cabinet Minister and vice-president of the European Commission Lord Brittan visited North Yorkshire to officially open a fundraising afternoon at the home of National Farmers' Union president Ben Gill.

Mr Gill's wife, Carolyn, opened her private garden at the family home at Hawkhills, Easingwold, on Saturday afternoon.

All proceeds will go towards the St John Ambulance, North Yorkshire and Teesside Bricks and Wheels Appeal, which aims to raise £840,000 to fund a new first-aid centre of excellence and up to nine replacement ambulances.

The former MP for Richmond, in North Yorkshire, opened the garden and the afternoon gave visitors the chance to look round, sample cakes and refreshments, and buy at a plant stall.

Admission charges for the open garden were £2 for adults and 50p for children.

Both Mr Gill and Lord Brittan are patrons of the St John Ambulance Appeal.

A total of £419,000 has been raised or pledged to the Bricks and Wheels Appeal since its launch a year ago.

Charity bosses hope they can raise the remaining balance of £421,000 by December 2003.

An NFU spokesman said guests had not mingled with livestock and there had been no risk of foot and mouth being spread.

Updated: 10:56 Monday, June 25, 2001