KIDS lent a helping hand in creating a memorial garden to comfort grieving families visiting a funeral directors in Trowbridge last week.

A total of 17 Newtown pupils showcased their creative side by painting a mural at Barker & Courtiers in Bond Street with their favourite designs which will be part of an ongoing project to transform the unused area.

The idea was the brainchild of funeral service arrangers Roz Browne and Sarah Bull who hope that families will soon plant trees in the garden which will be adorned with lights around Christmas time.

Mrs Bull, who has worked at the branch for three years, said: “The garden has not been used for anything for a long time and it was a wasted piece of space. We discussed it between ourselves what we could do with the area and we thought of making it a memorial garden.

“It is an ongoing project and there will be some table and chairs out in the space so that people can take a minute and sit peacefully when visiting the funeral directors which can be an emotional experience.

“The kids were so well behaved and they were a credit to the school in the way they got on with it.

“We want to offer people that relief when visiting and making that area nice and calm. We’re also inviting families to bring a plant for someone who has died and eventually there will be lots of different plants and flowers here. It is something a little bit extra to offer them.”

Barker & Courtiers are also going to put a plaque outside the garden to show visitors that it was the hard work of Newtown’s Sycamore class who painted the wall.