RESIDENTS on an Upper Clapton estate have come together to clean up the area and give the land a new lease of life.

Members of the Beecholme Tenants’ and Residents’ Association have spent the last two years painting, planting and fundraising to smarten up the estate in Prout Road.

Now they are ready for the next stage – three sculpted benches designed for them by well known sculptor Tim Norris.

Mr Norris, who calls the benches “artistic furniture”, said: “What is interesting about this project is that it is led by the residents themselves.”

He hopes to have the first new bench in place by March.

David White, secretary of the association, said: “We got a �5,000 grant to put new plants in, although they aren’t looking to good at the moment, and we also put a carpet in the lift lobby as it was bare concrete before.”

The money for the benches came partly from Hackney Homes’ environmental improvement budget and partly from fundraising by the TRA.

In addition, a �1,000 was donated by a local philanthropist and freeman of the borough, Gordon Bell.