The fruits of a community's labour take centre stage next week as a national gardens award is launched in Ravenscliffe.

Volunteers have transformed the area around a new £1.8million community centre.

Now the Royal Horticultural Society is to help put the finishing touches to the community gardens with the addition of more than 3,000 plants.

Community centre manager Ian Kenning is calling on residents to get involved.

He said: "It is about celebrating all we've achieved in Ravenscliffe over the last few years. We'd like to see lots more come along, see what we've done here and get it going in their own neighbourhoods.

"The day is an opportunity for people to get together, help with the planting and have a look at the volunteering opportunities in the centre."

Work began about three years ago to turn an old roundabout at the estate's entrance into a garden for residents. Such was its success that it was recognised by an RHS pilot project, the Britain in Bloom Neighbourhood Awards.

Now with the Gateway community centre open and the surrounding gardens shaping up, the RHS is to return.

The awards are part of the Government's Cleaner Safer Greener Communities campaign. Local residents and staff from RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate are to muck in on Wednesday at the award scheme's official nationwide roll-out.

Awards are presented based on the "distance travelled" and impact on local quality of life.

Matthew Wilson, curator at RHS Garden Harlow Carr said: "It's a pleasure for us to be involved in the launch at Ravenscliffe and see how far this community has travelled since they started out. It's a fun day and we hope it will inspire others to join forces and take part in the Neighbourhood Awards in their own areas."

The community centre grew out of a neighbourhood action plan devised by residents. Bradford Community Environment Project has been instrumental in landscaping.

For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom/neighbourhoodawards or call 020 7821 3118.

l Those wanting to help at the planting on Wednesday, should arrive at the Thackeray Road site by 10am.