Brighter outlook for temple.

HANGING baskets and flowering tubs have brightened up Coventry's Santana Dharma temple thanks to a joint project between local people and the environment regeneration agency Groundwork.

Sadhu Ram Kapila, who helps keep the books at the temple in Mason Road, Foleshill, is keen to open up the facilities to all those who live locally.

Mr Kapila said: "We wanted to improve the external appearance of our building so we can identify and deliver services identified by the community in the hope of promoting more social integration.

"We always have 30 or 35 people a week coming here but we get hundreds for special occasions."

Groundwork was able to fund pounds 700 of improvements thanks to a grant from the Single Regenera-tion Budget which makes small awards to groups who want to improve the appearance of a site or boost community activities.

Jacqui Clarke, project officer for Groundwork Coventry and Warwickshire said: "It has inspired me to watch the committee members' enthusiasm grow from strength to strength when they saw their vision becoming a reality."

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FLORAL BOOST: Sadhu Ram Kapil with some of the flowering tubs at the Santana Dharma temple in Coventry. Picture: MICHELLE SPERRY