The team behind a £65,000 community garden is celebrating after the Countryside Agency agreed to give the project the go-ahead and provide a grant.

Baildon's Hall Cliffe Community Garden got the yes vote it needed for the scheme to become a reality. The Agency supplied it with a £58,750 grant.

In May, residents dreamed up the idea of turning derelict land - a former playground off Hall Cliffe - into a village oasis.

After consultations with residents which involved a questionnaire distributed around Bail-don, plans for the garden were drawn up.

The application was submitted in September but the Agency argued that there was not enough provision in the plan for young people or teenagers.

Members responded by saying there was already recreation space on nearby playing fields and that a BMX track is planned for the village in the near future.

In the original vote, all but one Countryside Agency member voted in favour of the project but the remaining member has now changed his mind.

The project, which has a three-year timescale, will feature an area for disabled people, a wildlife section with informative noticeboards, a raised pergola as a central feature and various gardens filled with conifers, alpine plants and wildflowers.

Committee member Julia Donoghue said the group was "absolutely thrilled" with the decision.

"This news means the project can finally go ahead," she said. "The next step is to send tenders to contractors so work can begin in the spring.

"I really hope a lot of people will use it."

Mrs Donoghue said the hard work of the 20-strong committee helped the project get the green light.

Now the rest of the money is being raised by the group, which is appealing for businesses and individuals to provide funding and get involved.

The group also plans to apply for further grants from environmental bodies.

Mrs Donoghue added that donations of trees and plants would also be welcome.

The landscaping work will involve ripping up tarmac by contractors. The garden is planned to opened to the public by the end of next year.

Anyone wanting to help should contact Mrs Donoghue on (01274) 587181.