For 11 years Sylvia and Brian Jackson have invited people to take a look at their lovingly tended garden.

The keen gardeners spend most of the year nurturing the riot of colour, shapes and smells that form the suburban oasis in Wayland Avenue, Westdene, Brighton.

The couple are supporters of the National Gardens Scheme's annual Yellow Book, which lists attractive gardens to visit on certain days of the year.

People can look around gardens for a small fee which goes to various charities.

But this year Mr and Mrs Jackson's 80ft by 40ft garden won't be appearing.

Mr Jackson, 81, said: "Sadly the numbers have become so low we simply cannot keep it up. There is a considerable amount of work in keeping the garden as attractive as possible for these visits and the numbers just do not justify it.

"On our first open day we had 500 visits but at our last opening there were just 42.

"The real sadness is these openings raise money for cancer charities and they are the ones that are losing out."

The couple are baffled as to why numbers have gone down.

Mr Jackson developed prostate cancer in 1994 and is now in remission but says this is another reason why supporting the scheme is important to him.

He said: "It brought it home to me how vital these cancer charities are and so I want to do what I can to help them."

But the couple are hoping to reopen their garden next year.

Mrs Jackson, 74, said: "It is going to be difficult this year because of the expected water shortage. We have six water butts but it is going to be an issue."

Mr Jackson, a retired architect, built the house and planned the garden for his parents in the Fifties. After marrying, the couple moved in themselves during the Sixties.

For details, visit www.ngs.org.uk or call 01483 211535.