SUNDERLAND entrepreneur Sir Tom Cowie has handed over a specially adapted minibus to a school.

Castle Green Community School, at Hylton Castle, Sunderland, has been given the 17-seater bus for school visits and residential trips to an outdoor activity centre in the Lake District.

The school is a learning support unit for seven schools in the area and, through the Government's Excellence in Cities (EIC) initiative, it provides a range of programmes for students including childcare, catering, driving, hairdressing and soccer coaching.

Sir Tom, former chairman of transport company Arriva, recently donated £2,500 to the school's Excellence in Cities programme, which provided books, equipment and vocational training.

Sir Tom said: "This school is providing experiences and opportunities to children who might not otherwise have that chance.

"I have seen how their spirit and outlook can be lifted by their residential trips to the Lake District through working together, having fun and sharing problems.

"I decided to provide them with transport to make these trips easier and I am delighted to be able to hand over this specially-adapted bus. They really deserve it."