A CANCER research project in Salisbury is to benefit from a fundraising project organised by a Southampton charity.

Medical research organisation Hope is arranging the opening of the gardens at Pertwood Manor, Hindon, on Sunday in aid of a study looking at hereditary links in breast and colon cancer.

The project is being carried out at the Wessex Genetics Laboratory at Salisbury District Hospital.

The gardens, which are not normally open to the public, extend to more than an acre and surround the manor house with views over the Wiltshire countryside.

They include a private church, a sunken rose garden, a short woodland walk, a small vegetable garden and herbaceous borders, trees and shrubs.

Hope has recently set up a fundraising group in Salisbury and is committed to supporting medical research in the area.

Director of the charity Ray Kipling said: "We are very grateful to Joan Giles of Pertwood Manor for so kindly offering to open her garden for us. We hope people will come along for a lovely afternoon and also to support a good cause which is working locally.

"Our research brings benefit directly to the community and we want to do more in Wiltshire if we can raise the money for the research."

The garden will be open from 2pm to 5pm and admission is £2 for adults, free for children.