A centre helping people with mental health issues officially opened its new gardening project.

The Wiseworks Centre, in Marlborough Hill, Harrow, launched its Wiseacre horticultural project, which recently received a cash boost from Big Lottery Fund.

The centre is run by Harrow Borough Council and offers people with mental health problems training in a variety of areas including photography, woodwork and gardening.

Volunteers and service users from the centre spent two years creating the Wiseacre garden, which is sited on what was once a derelict piece of land that lay untouched for 25 years.

Jane Anderson, chairman of the Friends of Wiseacre, said: "I want to thank all the people who helped with this project.

"It will help people with mental health issues find themselves, teach them new skills and save lives. It will allow the people of Wiseworks to feel part of the community."

More than 40 people attended the opening with the Mayor of Harrow Cllr Ajay Maru, who planted a cherry tree in the garden before enjoying a tea party in the sun.

Gabriel Smith, manager of the Wiseworks Centre, said: "I have to say I am very proud today. It has taken a lot of work to get to this point and it will really help people from across Harrow."

With its Big Lottery Fund grant of £7,000, the Wiseacre project will employ a horticulturalist to help some centre users get NVQ and City and Guilds qualifications.

The Mayor of Harrow said: "I really think this is a fantastic place and what they have created in the middle of Harrow is wonderful.

"What is great is that this has been created for the community and people from across the borough will benefit from this project for years to come."

At any one point the centre has between 80 to 100 people taking part in different schemes at any one point, learning skills to help recover from mental health illness.