A 'PERFECT' memorial garden for three Leys stalwarts will be finished within the week in a corner of the Oxford estate's biggest park.

The small oasis in the corner of Blackbird Leys Park began to take shape this week and will feature a pink flowered hawthorn tree, ferns and ornamental grasses.

Wooden benches dedicated to legendary councillors Val Smith, Barbara Gatehouse and Carole Roberts were hand-crafted locally and are now concreted to the ground.

Gordon Roper, the chairman of the Blackbird Leys Parish Council, said: "It's going to be perfect and a credit to Val, Barbara and Carole.

"We didn't rush it, we did it step by step and taken it's gradually been ticking over, and I think it will look absolutely fantastic."

Located next to the leisure centre off Pegasus Road, the garden is made up of three hand-carved oak benches in a circle connected by a resin and gravel path.

A tree is being planted in the centre with large stones, shrubs and grasses around the edge. People will be able to use it as soon as the resin is set.

The idea was first conceived by the parish council and created by officers from Oxford City Council, which also contributed towards costs.

Parks operations manager Tina Mould, who designed and oversaw the creation of the garden, said: "It will hopefully be quite reflective, adding a bit of interest to the park.

"I chose grasses that would be sustainable and there all year round. More than anything I hope Andrew Smith will like it and it's utilised by the people of Blackbird Leys."

The benches were produced by the nearby Raw workshop in Dunnock Way, formerly Pathway, which employs people facing disabilities and disadvantage.

Reclaimed timber from Brasenose Wood was donated by the council for the seats. One is inscribed with 'Memorial garden in memory of Val Smith, Lord Mayor, councillor and friend of Blackbird Leys' while the other two read 'Remembering Barbara Gatehouse' and 'Remembering Carole Roberts'.

All three women, who died between May 2015 and January 2016, lived for all or much of their lives on the Leys and are held in high regard by the community.

They represented it on the city and county councils as well as each serving as Lord Mayor of Oxford.

Mr Roper said: "Val Smith was a stalwart of Blackbird Leys and was working for it until the end, and Barbara and Carole both lived there and fought for it.

"Now and perhaps in the future people will ask who they were and what they have done, and I hope people can sit there and have a cup of tea and relax."

Andrew Smith, the MP for Oxford East and Mrs Smith's husband, said: "It's lovely to see the garden taking shape. It's a wonderful memorial to Val and the other councillors.

"It means a great deal to me, to the family and to all of Val's many friends in the area."

A formal opening is likely to take place later this year.