ladies of Shotley WI have been turning heads after going full-frontal with a sustainable gardening project.

For their eye-catching display of everything from petunias to strawberry plants is a little bit fruity for more than one reason.

Discarded bras have been transformed into plant pots and suspended from a fence in the pretty community of Snods Edge as part of a National Federation of Women’s Institutes competition.

Aimed at achieving the ultimate upcycle, the initiative encourages WI branches up and down the country to re-purpose old bras as ‘hanging bra-skets’.

President Karen Coleman, said: “We already collect bras to be recycled for the charity, Against Breast Cancer, and we have quite a few keen gardeners in the group.

“So this seemed like a good thing for us to get involved in.”

Almost all members of the 35-strong branch turned out for the August meeting to prepare the uplifting display, which features no less than 40 bras.

“We had a conveyor system going and took turns to line the bras with plastic, fill them with soil, and plant them out,” added Karen.

With full support from the committee of St John’s Church Hall, Snods Edge, the colourful underwear now adorns the fence outside the building and has caused quite a stir.

Secretary, Cathy Railton, said: “We weren’t quite sure what to expect when we put the idea to them, but the vicar had a good old laugh at the idea.”

Treasurer Elaine Walls, said: “It’s definitely caught people’s attention.

“A lot of people have stopped when they’ve passed by and I’ve heard of some having their picture taken in front of it.”

Bras were sourced from charity shops and herbs, vegetables and flowering plants were donated by friends and family members.

Photographs of the ladies’ efforts were submitted to WI headquarters by the closing date of August 31 and winners are expected to be announced within the next few weeks.