A community embarked on its own DIY SOS project to build a sensory garden for two young sisters with the same genetic disease.


Ella Barden, eight, and her little sister Chloe, two, welcomed the mayor of Witham Bill Rose and a dozen helpers to open their new garden, funded by generous Witham groups and businesses.

Both girls have Cockayne Syndrome – a premature ageing condition which will eventually cause the girls to lose their hearing and sight.

Mum Jodie Barden, who also has son Alex, four, says the garden will be "invaluable" as the girls’ condition
continues to take its toll. 

See tomorrow's Braintree and Witham Times for more.