PENSIONER Charles Marsh has received a garden makeover to help him celebrate his housing association's 10th birthday.

Aspire Housing is a decade old this year and to mark the milestone it has decided to offer garden makeovers to 100 of its oldest tenants.

Charles, who has lived in his home in Clayton for 40 years, was one of the first to benefit from the scheme.

The 86-year-old's front lawn has been replaced with gravel, which will make the garden much easier to manage.

Charles said he was delighted with the results.

The former highways engineer said: "Gardening has always been a favourite pastime but getting older it has become increasingly difficult, especially with my health deteriorating.

"A couple of years ago I realised that the spirit was willing but the body was getting a bit weak."

The work was carried out by teenage apprentices from PM Training, a social enterprise group owned by Aspire, which tackles worklessness among young people.

Charles also received a piece of steel artwork created by the PM Training apprentices. He added: "The lads were great, they worked extremely hard and I am delighted with the results.

"It wasn't an easy job – there was so much soil to get through and lots of roots. This makeover has really made my dreams come true, my garden looks great and it's no effort to keep on top of it at all.

"So many people have complimented me – everyone thinks it looks great." The £100,000 gardens project is being funded by the Realise Foundation, a regeneration charity launched by Aspire earlier this year.

It aims to remove barriers to employment, education and training, as well as make neighbourhoods more attractive.

Sinead Butters, chief executive of the Aspire Group, said: "I am delighted to mark our 10th anniversary with this fantastic project, delivered by PM Training and funded by our new charity, the Realise Foundation. Upgrading the gardens of 100 of our oldest customers is a demonstration of our commitment to improve people's lives."

Aspire took over Newcastle Borough Council's social housing stock in 2000, and it now has 20,000 customers across North Staffordshire and South Cheshire.