OFFICE workers in Oxford swapped their calculators for paint brushes to help out at a garden in Cowley.

Colleagues from the finance team at the Midcounties Co-operative gave a helping hand at Barracks Lane Community Garden.

They painted an entrance gate, moved a noticeboard and treated a shelter with wood preservative.

It was all part of the Co-op’s volunteer programme, which allows workers paid leave for three days a year to volunteer in local projects.

Team leader Matt Bunney, an accountant at Midcounties’ Oxford head office, said: “The garden is run by and for the local community and relies on volunteers to maintain it.

Mr Bunney, pictured left with Anna Mulcahy, Sian Lewis and Phil Gregory, said: “We were happy to volunteer our services for a day and carry out a number of jobs there.”

He added: “The day went very well. We enjoyed doing something different and it was also a chance to get to know each other better.”

Barracks Lane Community Garden is a community-run green space off Cowley Road, which was transformed from an old garage site.

Garden coordinator Julieanne Porter said, after Monday’s event: “As we are entirely run by volunteers, we can only get jobs done when we have people available to do them.

“We really appreciate Midcounties’ help, as it makes a big difference. The team worked hard and did a very good job.”