NEW town gardens opened by Mayor Margaret Boulton on Thursday April 24 needed some rain, but not the torrential downpour that marred the opening ceremony.

Coun Boulton was carrying out one of her last official duties as Mayor of Marlborough when the heavens opened.

She cut a ribbon to formally open the new town gardens behind Wye House at the foot of Barn Street.

A brolly was hastily held over her as she cut the red ribbon before she dashed for cover, together with the other assembled guests.

The new gardens are the result of a deal struck between Kennet District Council which formerly owned Wye House and specialist retirement home developer Beechcroft.

As part of the deal of acquiring the 18th century house and some of its spacious gardens, Beechcroft has provided an area of public gardens rather reminiscent of a town square.

The gardens provide a quiet sitting out area for the public tucked away behind the busy London Road and Barn Street and with a stream running through, creating a small pond, on its way to join the River Kennet.

Wye House, formerly council and Sarsen tenements, has been converted into six upmarket apartments.

The gardens are flanked on either side by Georgian style terraces, one comprising five houses and the other four houses and four flats.