A DUDLEY based charity couldn't hide its delight after winning a local Lloyds Bank Community Award.

White House Cancer Support landed a £3,000 windfall after being nominated for the prize by the general public.

The charity beat off opposition from Dudley Deaf Children's Society, who were runners-up, third place Sandwell Women's Aid plus Sandwell and West Bromwich Hospital Charity which came fourth.

White House will now use the money to create a therapeutic garden at its Ednam Road headquarters in the heart of Dudley.

Chief executive officer Maxine Wragg admitted: "It means so much to us because we're not a big organisation but a small local charity.

"We only have seven staff, most of which are part-time, but we must have nearly 100 volunteers - and it was one of our volunteers who nominated us.

"It's lovely to win the award but it's also recognition and support for the work we do with cancer victims and their families from the community.

"We have a nice, lawned area at the back of the building in Ednam Road, but people weren't using it as much as we'd like.

"We plan to start work on the garden in the spring through some of our volunteer gardeners. We plan to install a bench, create a water feature and provide plants and bushes.

"Once completed, the garden will be available to all people who use our services."