A gardening project in a south London borough has helped improve the health of older people, it has been revealed. 

Over the past three years, Age UK has been matching older people in Wandsworth who are no longer able to tend to their garden with younger volunteers who have a keen interest in gardening, reports the Telegraph.

Volunteers were paired with elderly participants depending on their tastes and interests in order to develop long-term friendships.

A survey revealed that 80 per cent of the older people said that the 'Garden Partners' project helped them maintain or improve their physical activity and around four in five said that it reduced their anxiety levels.

Sarah Jackson, a horticulturalist, told the news provider: "What we have found is that it is the relationship that grows between the two people that really takes them by surprise.

"That is what in the long term, with support and stability, improves their quality of life."

Care minister Paul Burstow praised the project and revealed that it could be rolled out across the country.