MALDON'S ambulance station has received a front garden makeover as thanks for the way staff served the community during the pandemic.

Carol McCafferty and her husband Shaun, who is Chairman of Maldon and Heybridge Horticultural Society, decided to galvanise fellow gardening enthusiasts into action to transform the previously drab spot with new trees and shrubs, perennial and annual plants, as well as an obelisk decorated with a hand-painted wooden bird and a bug hotel.

As they carried out the work, neighbours and passers-by brought donations of plants to help the group's efforts.

Carol told Maldon Nub News: "We thought this would be a lovely thing to do and asked the ambulance station if we could and they were very happy with the idea.

"It was great that everyone stood on their doorsteps and clapped to thank frontline staff, but I thought it would be good to do something more permanent.

"It's become something the whole community can enjoy, too. We've had lots of positive comments and when were finishing the work, we even had a little girl who was passing by with her mum ask if she could look at the bug hotel."

The couple and society members will maintain the garden as it grows and flourishes.