A Reading charity aimed at 'using gardening to change lives' has been shortlisted for a national award.

Thrive, a volunteer-led charity, which uses gardening to help people with their physical and mental health, has made it through to the final of the Sun newspaper’s Who Cares Wins competition

Having been up against hundreds of applications, Thrive has been shortlisted for the Best Health Charity award.

The winner will be announced by Davina McCall, on November 22 in London and screened on Channel 4 and All 4 on November 27 at 6.30pm.

Thrive is a lifeline for those living with disabilities and life-changing health conditions and uses gardening to bring about positive changes in the lives of people in need.

Trained horticultural therapists at its Centre, in Beech Hill, use gardening to help improve the physical and psychological health of people, like their nominator, Shanewaz Akhtar, 49, who has primary-progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).

He said: "Gardening and being outdoors has helped me manage my condition and it has enabled me to be a part of a group, rather than sat alone in isolation.

"It has given me a sense of purpose and structure to my life.

"Although my condition took away my career and my mobility, finding Thrive has been a blessing.

"They are heroes and deserve all the recognition in the world."