Volunteers with a skill development programme offered landscaping service to a care home free of charge.

Residents of the Matilda Smith William Nursing Home in Devonshire saw 15 men trim hedges and cull invasive trees around the property last Saturday.

The volunteers were with the Skills Development Programme, conducted by the Department of Parks.

Roger Parris, who oversees the programme, said: “It’s work that hadn’t been done in a long time so I think the residents were very happy.”

He added: “One of the things we’re doing at the skills Development Programme is really teaching the young men how to become more employable.

“We realise that everybody talks about people needing jobs, but nobody talks about the skills that makes them employable like timekeeping and productivity. That’s what we hoped to teach them through this.”

The landscapers worked between 8.30am and 3pm and ended up removing enough horticultural waste for three dump trucks.

Mr Parris said that he hoped to have the men offer their services at other care homes next year.