Parents and children from Barkerend have launched a campaign to turn a disused allotment into a community orchard thanks to a government scheme.

Sure Start Barkerend has been awarded £2.5 million over a period of three years to help improve the lives of under-fours in the area.

And the scheme has been so successful it has attracted the attention of the Department of Education and Employment, which will feature the scheme in a government document.

Mother-of-one, Sobia Afshan, said the Sure Start scheme was a welcome boost to the area.

"Since the scheme started it has just been so much easier to get help and advice from professionals. It is absolutely brilliant and not just for the children. At the moment I am learning about different courses I could go on. It is a really good idea."

Another parent, Sayra Musa, was also full of praise for the scheme.

"There is a lot more parental involvement now and you can tell that the whole area is benefiting. You see mums out and about who would not normally venture out. It has given them more confidence."

The scheme employs 25 people from different ethnic backgrounds.

Co-ordinator Kal Nawaz said: "The good thing about Barkerend is that it has such a diverse mix of people. Now we are all coming together, there is a lot that can be learned."

The aim of the scheme is to improve the health and education of the youngsters by getting them involved in the community.

"We have had a series of parties for the children and we gave them things like toothbrushes, t-shirts and crayons and fruit, not the usual sweets and things and we are also looking at innovative ways of promoting healthy eating and living."

The community orchard is one way of helping the residents help themselves.

"There has been such a great response from everyone, it had has been amazing. We're firing on all cylinders," said Mrs Nawaz.