Volunteers are putting the finishing touches to a £19,000 scheme to transform a dumping ground in east Oxford into a community garden.

Residents in Howard Street began clearing rubbish and washing machines at the beginning of March to make way for plants, shrubs, seating and mosaic tiles.

The 7m by 5m former derelict land on the corner of Catherine Street and Howard Street is owned by Oxford City Council and leased to Oxford Film and Video Makers, which is supporting the project.

Half of the cost was funded by a grant from the council's east area committee capital budget.

Some of the money was used to employ professional landscape gardeners. Residents with gardening expertise also put their skills to use by drawing up plans and organising gardening work- shops. Several local companies donated materials.

Community arts group Recreate is helping volunteers create colourful mosaics for the paving and children's seating area from recycled materials.

Residents were invited to suggest shrubs and flowers for the garden which were planted, along with the birch tree, on Sunday.

A blacksmith instructor from Bridewell Organic Gardens was at the event to help begin design work on iron gates for the garden.

A second mosaic workshop will take place on Saturday, May 8, before the garden is officially opened on June 19.

Project coordinator Marian Pocock, said residents first began planning the project three years ago in a bid to brighten up the area and help build community spirit.

She said: "It's been really exciting seeing it develop."