A GROUP of kind-hearted teenagers helped spruce up a children centre's garden.

The two teams of 16 and 17 year olds from across the Braintree district are participating in the UK's flagship youth project the National Citizen Service.

As part of their service, the teams had to commit 30 hours to a local community project and one group chose to help out at Carousel Children's Centre in Braintree.

The group raised the money for the improvements themselves, asking local business to donate prizes for a tombola and setting up a themed fancy dress cake sale in George Yard Shopping Centre.

They then got to work clearing the overgrown gardens, replanting and artistically painting a graffiti art wall and coloured stones dotted throughout Carousel's garden.

Carousel, which is on Chapel Hill in Braintree, offers fun group activities to support children of five and under.

Elle Harris, 16 and from Braintree, is starting her studies at Colchester Sixth Form College in September and used her summer holiday to benefit from NCS.

She said: “NCS has helped develop my leadership skills and self-esteem. I’ve also enjoyed meeting new people and having the chance to show my creative side.

“Our Alice in Wonderland themed cake sale has been the highlight for me because I really enjoyed making and designing all of the cakes and costumes.

"We were delighted to raise over £260 to fund our garden makeover. I would definitely recommend NCS to all young people as it has been such an enjoyable experience.”

To find out more about the NCS, visit: www.ncsingeus.co.uk.