SOME of Canvey Island’s most impressive private gardens were opened up to the public in a bid to raise money for charity.

Canvey Town Council hosted its sixth annual garden trail on Saturday, which saw 13 residential and community gardens open for public viewing.

Since it began, the event has raised thousands of pounds for local and national charities.

Cancer Research, Canvey’s First Responders and Canvey Community Archive have all benefited from the event.

The island’s Multiple Sclerosis Club, a self-funded group offering support to people battling the condition, has been selected as this year’s chosen charity.

Laura Windley, of Canvey Town Council, said the event was once again very popular.

She said: “It was hard to tell how many came, because in one garden you might have 30 or 40 at a time and in others you would have five. We won’t know how much we raised until later in the week.

“Everyone commented about 57 First Avenue, just about how stunning it was.

“It was a great success and it will return next year.”

Programmes were priced at £3 each and allowed one adult entry into all gardens, children were free, if accompanied by a paying adult.

Plants, jams, teas and coffees were sold at some of the gardens.

For more information, call the town council on 01268 683971.