AN OAKLEY couple have raised more than £4,000 for charity after ‘passing the blessing on’ by opening up their garden which became their saviour after the death of their son.

In 2012, Wendy and Graham Pott got a garden makeover thanks to Alan Titchmarsh’s show Love Your Garden after the couple were put forward following the death of their 26 year-old son Matt, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident whilst crossing a road in Bristol in December 2009.

The couple say the garden became their ‘saviour’ and gave them a ‘focus and purpose’ after they became overwhelmed with grief.

But on, Saturday, 18 August, the couple staged an open garden in aid of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and Steven Williams, Kim Wilde’s drummer, whose diagnosis with the disease the couple became aware of through their singing teacher at their choir. Mr Williams is exploring groundbreaking gene treatment for MND, which is not covered by the NHS.

The day raised £4,012.37 - the target was just £1,000.

Overall, 120 guests, from as far afield as London and Maidenhead, came along to the day which featured cream teas, Pimm's, Prosecco and an auction while the Barley Mow pub got involved too, raising £451 in an hour with a raffle and action.

The couple's auction had an array of gifts including golf days, sea fishing, two hours of use of a stretched limo, an Aston Martin adventure, a tour of Aardman animations and a signed book from Nick Park, a signed book from Alan Titchmarsh and tickets to Highclere Castle.

Wendy, whose mum died due to MND at the age of 45, said: “It was two months of terrifically hard work and no chance to enjoy the sunshine but boy was it worth it

According to Spungold TV, which makes the Love Your Garden show, this is the only garden to have been made over that has ever been opened to the public