A PLEA from a school caught the imagination of students who have put the finishing touches to a sensory garden.

The 12 young people advertised for community projects that they could work on as part of their studies, and St Paul's RC primary responded.

Karen Robinson, who volunteers at the school, got in touch with the students who happily spent three weeks building the garden for the 200 pupils.

Student Danielle Walker, 23, said the group were all studying on a Prince's Trust personal development course at the college.

They even donned fancy dress to raise money for the project to buy better equipment and plants, raising £60 during their walk along the River Tees.

The group potted plants and shrubs and yesterday installed bird tables and nesting beds in a mature tree.

Mrs Robinson, whose daughter Lauren, five, is a pupil at the school, said: "The school wanted something similar to a sensory garden but needed help building it.

"So when I saw the advert, the students were only too happy to help and they've done a fantastic job."