The secrets of some of Barrow’s most beautiful gardens were unveiled during a weekend in July 1995 to boost funds for St Paul’s Church.

Under the headline ‘Green trail boosts church coffers’, The Mail reported that parishioners set out to turn flowers into cash on behalf of the church by opening up 11 gardens to the public during a Garden Trails Weekend.

The event was organised by retired St Paul’s School headmaster Sid Bundy and his wife Phyllis, who threw open the gates to their Fairfield Lane garden.

Entitled ‘A Garden with a Vista’, Mr and Mrs Bundy’s garden certainly lived up to its name with a glorious view over to Piel Island and Blackpool beyond.

Mrs Bundy said about the garden trails idea: “Our son came up with the idea after one was held at his local church in Mallam, in Yorkshire.

“We thought it was a good idea to raise money for the church.”

Her husband, who organised the event, added: “It’s been really great fun and I have seen people who I haven’t met for years.”

Several hundred parishioners took the opportunity to have a look around the gardens, including Mavis Pearson, from Redmayne Avenue.

“It’s a lovely thing to do, walking round the gardens. They are all very beautiful,” she said.

In June 1994 The Mail reported that churchgoers at St Peter's Church at Field Broughton, near Cartmel, launched their centenary festivities with a colourful flower festival.

The late Victorian church, with its distinctive spire visible for miles around, was adorned with brightly coloured flowers for the three-day festival.

Organ recitals were also held with the centenary celebration proceeds going towards church funds.

To mark St Peter's Day a festival evensong was due to be held at the church, which would be attended by the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev Ian Harland.