A GREEN-fingered IT worker was chosen as one of the winners of a national garden design competition.

Lee Burkhill, 33, who is from Rainford, created a garden entitled 'Fancy a Brew? Take a Pew' - and it was one of four winners picked from around 200 entrants.

Former Rainford High pupil Lee was invited to the Chelsea Flower Show, where he was introduced as one of the winners.

The 'Feel Good Gardens' competition, run by the Royal Horticultural Society and the BBC, focussed on making the most of front gardens.

Lee, who started a gardening blog called 'Garden Ninja' two years ago, said: "I've always loved gardening. I dug a pond in my parents' garden when I was eight, and re-did the whole garden when I was 12.

"People were always telling me they liked the idea of gardening but didn't know where to start, so I decided to start a blog, giving tips and a bit of inspiration.

"I spent some time researching, visiting award-winning gardens and I did some weekend design courses."

He added: "I spotted the competition by chance and entered it on the off-chance, so am really thrilled to be a winner. The four winners now go to the Hampton Court Flower Show in July and one of us will be chosen as the overall winner."

Lee, who now lives in Manchester, said: "'Fancy a Brew? Take a Pew' symbolises a return to the good old-fashioned community days where neighbours would talk over the front garden walls or sit on the front step with a brew putting the world to rights before tea time.

"I wanted to create a front garden that would help people reconnect with that sense of community rather than rushing in through the front door as soon as they return from a busy day at work."

As well as gardening, Lee enjoys hiking, skiing and anything that involves the outdoors.

Visit Lee's blog site at gardenninja.co.uk.