GARDENS of Moretonhampstead and North Bovey will be open to the public in the annual Secret Gardens event on June 27 and 28.

This is the 16th year of the scheme, which raises money for the Friends of St Andrew's Church in Moretonhampstead.

This year, for the first time, gardens in North Bovey are being included and money raised will be shared with the Friends of St John's Church in North Bovey, to help cover the costs of maintenance of that building also.

Opening hours will be from 11am to 5pm on both days.

There will be a free bus service to take visitors to the more outlying gardens and parking for cars will be available in the village centre and at some of the gardens.

Lunches and cream teas will also be provided at some of the gardens.

Tickets, maps and descriptions of the gardens are available from the Moretonhampstead Information Centre and Court Street Groceries and will be on sale in the village square over the weekend.

The entry charge is £5 per person, valid throughout the two days. There is no charge for accompanied children under 14.

The event welcomes approximately 500 visitors each year, some of whom stay in the area, and in 2007 £2,500 was raised.