A TRANQUIL and beautiful garden at Bolton Hospice would be a haven for patients and their loved ones, according to a cancer sufferer.

Joan Lindley, aged 80, of Bradford Road, Farnworth, was diagnosed with lung cancer last June and has been a day patient at Bolton Hospice for the past three months.

The former joiner, who worked at Norwich Joinery, has undergone radiotherapy and receives her pain medication at home, but says the hospice is her lifeline.

Mrs Lindley, whose husband, Fred, died in 1991, visits Bolton Hospice once a week to catch up with the friends she has made there, but says an improvement to the rundown gardens would make all the difference.

She said: "The hospice is a fantastic place, it's my social hub. The staff are amazing, but the gardens really do need improving.

"The Garden of Tranquillity appeal is fantastic. I used to be a keen gardener and there's nothing better than sitting out and enjoying the sunshine. It would be a real haven."

The Bolton News launched the Garden of Tranquillity appeal to raised £100,000 to completely renovate the grounds of Bolton Hospice.

Currently, most of the open space at the hospice is covered in grass, making it impossible for people in wheelchairs and those using walking frames to access it.

Patio areas are filled with cracked, broken and uneven paving stones.

Under the hospice plans, pathways will be created, providing disabled access and there will be private seating areas where patients can spend time with their loved ones.

There will also be a water feature and a sensory garden. The total raised now stands at more than £69,000.

If you would like to make a donation, cheques and postal orders should be made payable to Bolton Hospice and can be returned to The Bolton News, Newspaper House, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE.

If you are organising a fundraising event contact The Bolton News health correspondent, Jane Lavender, on 01204 537350.