A GARDEN party with a difference brought a community together as residents swapped tools, plants and advice in a celebration of sustainability.

The afternoon event was held at Millom Library, in St George's Terrace, to give people the chance to drop off gardening items they no longer want or need and take home something more useful.

Organised by Cumbria County Council, there was also a range of stands at the ready to offer a wealth of information as well as handmade products for sale.

Those attending were also able to take some time to chat, share tips and get to know fellow Millom residents over a hot drink, with all proceeds going to the Millom First Responders Group.

Ian Movatt, community services officer at Millom Library, said the afternoon had been extremely well attended.

He said: "This is the first event of its kind held at the library and it was a real success, people seemed to really enjoy it.

"A wide range of people from the community came along, from very young children taking part in colouring activities and planting cress pots, to older residents from a nearby care home.

"It brought lots of people and different organisations together."

Organisations involved in the garden party swap shop included the RSPB West Cumbria group who had information available on birds in the area and what residents can do in their garden and neighbourhood to help encourage and protect them.

Cumbria County Council's waste prevention officer Kitty Hankins was on hand to talk about how to reduce the volume that householders place in both refuse and green bins, with advice on composting to return valuable goodness to the garden.

Lovingly created bird boxes and planters made by apprentices from the Millom Training and Skills Centre, based at Millom Network Centre in Devonshire Road, were on sale.

Residents with spare tomato plants grown by enthusiastic gardeners in the community were also available to anyone willing to give them a home in exchange for a crop of fruit later this summer.

There was a display from members of Millom Flower Club along with information about their activities while Sheila Ellwood, a fitness, health and wellbeing specialist, talked about the health benefits gardening can bring.

And a selection of library books on gardening and growing fruit and vegetables was displayed for people to browse and borrow.