CHILDREN at a Middlesbrough school are celebrating the opening of a sensory garden complete with Playtrail to help them stay fit and active.

The autistic youngsters, who go to Beverley School, are already enjoying using the facility, which should also bring more wildlife.

Headteacher Nigel Carden said: "The young people at the school love the garden. We asked them what they wanted, and then had lots of help from Matthew Smartt, of Middlesbrough Council, in drawing up the plans to fit in with their ideas."

The Friends of Beverley School raised the money to pay for the development.

Dorothy Fraser, the school's fundraising co-ordinator, persuaded a wide range of organisations to support the scheme, including finishing touches from volunteers from Barclaycard and crime reduction organisation Nacro.

She said: "The results couldn't be better. We're looking forward to inviting some of our neighbours, including residents in nearby retirement homes, to enjoy the garden with us next spring."

The project cost £16,000 with funding coming from a mixture of donations and grants, including The Lord's Taverners, Groundwork Middlesbrough, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund Community Chest, Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust and Barclaycard.