RYLSTONE WI calendar girl Angela Baker helped open a new garden for cancer patients at Airedale Hospital, where her late husband, John, was treated for the disease.

Mrs Baker, along with fellow Calendar Girl Lynda Logan, opened the £5,000 centenary garden at the Steeton site.

The cash was raised by the Rotary Club of Keighley.

The new facility will be somewhere patients can relax with their friends and family. Wheelchair users will also be able to access the site.

Bird boxes and baths will be introduced to entice birds to the garden and two benches are set to be installed.

The idea for the garden came when the club decided to do something special to celebrate its centenary year.

Sue Hall, community chairman of Keighley Rotarians, was inspired by botanical gardens in Sheffield.

She said: "I loved the fact that these gardens were very peaceful, with all ages enjoying the environs of trees, birdsong, bees, colours and perfumes.

"My husband, Peter, was cared for by the oncology staff at Airedale Hospital and we wanted to provide something special that could be enjoyed by patients and their families and to mark the Rotary Club's centenary."

Adam Cairns, chief executive of Airedale NHS Trust, said: "We are very grateful for this garden which I am sure will be used very much by our patients and their families.

"We are very proud of our hospital and its grounds and we recognise the effect that the environment can have on our patients.

"It is very important that they are able to see blue sky and green grass and trees when they are staying in the hospital and they will be able to do this thanks to the provision of this new garden."

Ann Cryer, MP for Keighley and Ilkley, whose second husband died from cancer, also attended.

She said: "It makes so much difference for patients and their relatives when they can look out on a garden such as this. We are all thankful to the Rotary Club of Keighley for its hard work in providing this wonderful facility."

Designer John Thornton, of Barrowford, came up with "the look" of the garden, while Steeton gardener Simon Benson helped turn it into a reality.