A SMALL army of green-fingered learners turned out to help plant new trees and shrubs outside a new Southampton nursery and creche.

The 25 youngsters all came from the William Macleod Way estate, near Millbrook, after school to get their hands dirty at the site of the new building, part of Western Community Hospital.

Debbie Edwards, from the street's residents' association, who organised the event, said: "The idea was that if we got the youngsters out helping to create the garden, they wouldn't want to rip it up in the future.

"The site is right on the edge of our estate, so it also should make it look better as people come into the road."

Western Hospital is a 104-bed building which concentrates on caring for elderly.