AMBULANCE crews in Coleford have somewhere pleasant to sit and relax between calls thanks to the generosity of the local community.

Local businessman Jim Kane got the ball rolling to transform a piece of waste ground at the back of the station which was used to store waste bins.

Mr Kane, of Kane Paving and whose partner is an emergency care assistant at the station, helped plan the project and provided labour and raw materials.

Builders merchants Travis Perkins provided hard materials, Longford Fencing gave all the timber products and Brian Wiltshire at Five Acres Timber Products donated a garden bench.

The finishing touches, in the shape of pots and plants, were provided by members of the public.

Lead paramedic at Coleford, Mark Harris, said: “Our role can often be both stressful and demanding.

“With this in mind the idea was to construct an area at work where we can take five minutes to gather our thoughts.

“The staff at station wanted to  create a garden of reflection and remembrance as in recent years we have lost a number of staff to terminal illness which has had a great impact on all that knew them.

“As a station we’d now like to acknowledge the huge help that has been provided by local contractors and suppliers.

“All the labour and materials were provided free of charge, this included the kind donation of a garden bench.

“The result is an absolutely fantastic garden which is much appreciated by all the staff.”