An emergency horticultural help line is being launched by a Surbiton-based company run by BBC Television and radio gardening expert Nicholas Turrell.

The scheme, "Peace of Mind", promises professional on-the-spot advice and answers to questions of cultivation.

The Horticultural Media Company will charge subscribers £40 a month and they can call as many times as like for an immediate answer to their problem.

Mr Turrell said: "If you have a problem with you teeth you call a dentist but if you have a problem with your garden who do you call? The Peace of Mind consultancy service fills that gap.

"By picking up the phone and asking an expert you'll save yourself a fortune in expensive mistakes."

When problems cannot be solved over the phone an expert from HMC's landscaping division can be called out to have a look.

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