A parish council has apologised after members of the public were left in the rain while a Diamond Jubilee Garden was opened - indoors.

The garden at the recreation ground in Middletons Lane was officially opened last Friday, but torrential rain meant the event was moved indoors.

And that left disappointed people stuck out in the rain, because of a limit on the number of people allowed inside the council's buildings. Jonathan Hall, parish council deputy clerk said: 'Unfortunately, by moving the event indoors, it could not be open to the public, as the main hall capacity was already reached by our invited guests.

'We would like to say sorry to any parishioners that turned up in the awful weather to witness the opening.

'Given the weather, the health and safety concerns and that more than 50 school children were scheduled to attend, we made the decision to use the community centre for the ceremony rather than cancel the event.'

The Diamond Jubilee Garden is a conservation area within the recreation ground which was planted by schoolchildren earlier this year.

The project was suggested by the council's head groundsman Kevin Sage and adopted by Hellesdon Parish Council, funded through a grant from The Big Lottery Fund.

The parish council is hoping for better weather this Saturday as the annual Hellesdon carnival takes place.

The carnival, to be held at the recreation ground, starts with the arrival of the carnival procession around 12.30pm.