Stonecot Hill can look forward to a brighter and more colourful summer after volunteers from Sutton Living Streets gave the street planters a seasonal makeover.

Bright purple lavender plants and pink geraniums now shine alongside the more muted trees and shrubs, which themselves have had a timely trim.

The planting is part of Sutton Council’s Take Part Take Pride week, which encourages residents to organise events in their neighbourhoods to bring people together socially and to improve the places where they live.

Campaigner and keen gardener Charlotte Gilhooly said,

The planters have been dull for a long time and we wanted to do something about it now that summer’s here. We were really pleased when we heard about Take Part Take Pride and asked if we could use the opportunity to brighten up our neighbourhood. We’re delighted with the results and looking forward to keeping the planters in shape.

Sutton Living Streets is the local branch of a national charity that campaigns to promote walking, better streets and stronger communities.

Police and community support officers from Stonecot Safer Neighbourhoods Team are stepping up foot patrols after two suspicious fires broke out in the area last week.

The first fire left the Nisa Thai restaurant with a big clean-up job after the blaze destroyed the roof and part of the walls of its rear extension.

Three days later, a second fire caused damage to a garage at the rear of one of Hill Top’s houses, just 50 metres from the restaurant.

Prompt action from the fire brigade prevented the fires from spreading and kept damage to a minimum. No-one was hurt in either incident.

• In an emergency phone 999.
• Do you know who may have started these fires? Speak to the Safer Neighbourhoods Team on 020 8721 2492 or email them at Stonecot.snt@met.police.uk