A WIDOWER is preparing to open his gardens for an event in memory of his wife.

Les Hammond, who lives in Newland, near Malvern, will welcome the public to his "beautiful" garden on Saturday, June 4.

The 74-year-old, whose wife, Olive, died from a stroke in May last year, hopes to raise at least £1,000 for a trio of charities close to his heart.

"She had cancer for about three years, got a lot of treatment and was starting to build up her strength but then suddenly she had this terrible stroke," remembered Mr Hammond. "It was pretty horrific."

Mr Hammond's son, Mark, died five years ago aged 38 from a rare disease called neurosarcoidosis.

In his memory, some of the money raised will be donated to the Sarcoidosis Interstitial Lung Association (SILA), while the rest will go to St Richard's Hospice and the Stroke Association.

Last summer, Mr Hammond opened his gardens for the first time and raised a whopping £2,640 for the Hospice and SILA.

He is hoping to achieve a similar success this year and has planned a host of fun activities for guests to enjoy on the day.

Along with viewing his well-tended, quarter-acre garden, there will be plants on sale, children's quizzes, a raffle and much more.

"My wife was a fantastic gardener, I mainly spent most of my time doing the lawn and edge really," said Mr Hammond.

He added: "It is a beautiful garden. I have had to get a lot of help to get it up to the standard she had it to all the time."

Anyone who wants to come along is welcome between 11am and 5pm at 3 Stocks Lane, Newland, WR13 5AZ.