A TODMORDEN garden designer is helping build one of the main attractions at Chelsea Flower Show.

Rick Wilson, a former pupil of St Theodore's High School, Burnley, is part of the team constructing the Cancer Research UK display garden for the event, which gets under way on May 23.

The creation is described as "a modern garden for a healthy lifestyle" and is based around three key ideals to eat healthily, stay in shape and also to be sunsmart.

It includes a turquoise blue, infinity-edged swim-ming pool, complete with jacuzzi and shaded pavilion a first for Chelsea. Rick has been working 14 hour shifts for the last 13 days but he said he was delighted to be able to add his own little touches to the masterpiece.

The 32-year-old, of Olive Landscapes, Walsden, said: "It's an honour to be here and quite an accolade, a real once in a lifetime opportunity.

"This is one of the world's most prestigious shows and to be given the chance to be involved in it like this is just amazing."

The shaded pavilion is framed by tree trunks at the rear of the garden, which form the backdrop and will be under-planted in a modern woodland style.

The front of the garden uses bold blocks of planting integrated with large, square tables of neatly clipped yew from Germany and edible plants including large flowering blueberries from Devon.

Rick, who qualified with a degree in Horticulture at Askham Bryan College in York in 2001 said he was asked to help with the project after previously impressing during a spell working with London-based company The Plant Room.And despite working in other occupations, which included teaching football to children in Britain and America, as well as travelling around the world, he admitted he has always had a passion for green gardening.

He said: "I'm a very outdoor type of person. I love getting out in the mountains.

"I've always loved working with plants and creating something that people will enjoy and be able to spend time in."