RESIDENTS are being invited to help themselves to vegetables that are growing outside a library.

Upton in Bloom sowed the first lot of seeds outside Upton Library, on Tuesday, March 21.

Gardeners planted radishes, salad leaves, peas, spring onions, runner beans, tomatoes, parsley, sage and mint plants in the library's raised bed.

Upton Villages Together, the community group responsible for the library, asked volunteers to take over the patch outside the building.

Jackie Surtees, chair of Upton in Bloom, said: "The beds are considered a public resource and residents are welcome to help themselves.

"Everything has grown well and one crop of radishes has been followed by another sowing.

"Tomatoes are ripening, runner beans are developing and pea pods filling.

"The beds are considered a public resource and residents are welcome to help

themselves."

The gardening group will be clearing weeds around the library and the car park at 9.30am on Saturday, July 8.

Volunteers are being encouraged to sign up ahead of the Heart of England in Bloom judging on Tuesday, July 18.