TWO sisters have revisited a “secret garden” where their mother is remembered in a commemorative bench.

Georgina Hughes and Edna Howard paid a visit to Rochford Council’s office gardens where they spent much of their childhood with mother Maud Matilda Howard.

Maud had been given special permission by the council to use the gardens and, when she died in 1992, Georgina and her husband donated the bench with a plaque, which is still used by council staff today.

Georgina said: “It was her favourite place to go, her own little secret.

“She loved it here, the council gave her special permission to sit in the gardens and she often used to talk to the gardener about the history of the town.

Edna added: “It’s great to see the bench is still here.

“We have been really excited to see it again, it brings back so many memories I am really glad we choose this way to remember our mother as it is very fitting and I know she would love it.”

Benches can be hand made by the council’s woodlands team from locally sourced English oak taken from Hockley Woods.

Anyone wanting to place a bench in of the council’s parks or would like more information can email customer.services@rochford.gov.uk or call 01702 318111.