Residents of the New Cross area of Sutton-in-Ashfield are celebrating a successful year of working together to help improve their area.

Running a successful children’s group, creation of a community garden, cook and eat sessions, organising litter picks, work on developing resident parking and being consulted about policies in the area are among what has been achieved over the last 12 months.

Called New Cross Community Links, the group started life in July 2015 as the result of Connecting Communities work funded by the NHS.

At the beginning, a listening event was organised to give people living and working in New Cross a chance to say what they thought was good about the area and what they thought needed improving.

Following this, residents started to steer work themselves, organising activities, taking action and making positive changes to the area with the support of organisations, including Ashfield District Council and Nottinghamshire Police.

At its most recent meeting, the nearest to a year after the first, group members shared a birthday cake and chatted about the great things they have achieved.

Group treasurer Michelle Chadwick said: “We are really pleased with the way it has gone and the number of people that have got involved in different ways.

“Looking ahead, we have got lots of things planned including summer sessions for children and more work on the allotment. We hope to see the group get bigger and stronger.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about or joining New Cross Community Links should contact group treasurer Michelle Chadwick using [email protected] or just turn up at the next meeting, which is at New Cross Community Church Hall, Downing Street, on Monday, July 25, starting at 6pm.