HOLIDAYMAKERS worked all week to set up a Marsden plant fair.

The tourists on a National Trust break paid their way to set up fencing, clean pots and sort plants for yesterday's sale in the town's old goods yard off Station Road.

Plant fair co-ordinator and National Trust Volunteer Philip Thompson said it was the seventh year a National Trust plant sale had been held.

The event raises cash for the Trust.

Over the past three years it has made £24,000.

In its first year it raised £350 but is now their largest annual money-maker.

Cuttings and shrubs were donated by residents and Armitages Garden Centres of Huddersfield.

"It's a super community effort from local growers as well as our team of dedicated ladies who work all the way through the year and develop plant stock for the sales," said Philip.

More than 20 volunteers staffed the event. Among them were many of those on the National Trust holiday.

Elias Kobett, 18, from St Moritz in Switzerland was in Marsden for a week in a bid to improve his English in time for a language exam.

"It has been really nice," he said. "I built a fence and cleaned pots!

"It has always been nice weather when I have been here so I don't understand why people say it's always raining."

Lesley Lander, 43, of Hampstead, London, has been on a staggering 23 National Trust holidays.

She helped organise the fair.

"I do a lot of this sort of work in London," she said.

Oldham head-teacher Jenny Mitchell, of Marsden, was visiting the sale with friend Kate Platts, of Saddleworth.

"People have put a lot of hard work into this and there's lot of healthy plants," said Mrs Mitchell.