KIND-HEARTED Royal Mail staff have helped raise money so a nursery can improve its facilities for children with special needs.

Postal workers at the Royal Mail delivery office in Darlington rallied round to raise £704 towards equipment for a sensory room at Borough Road Nursery School in the town.

The staff held a race night in September, organised by Mike Watson, a parent governor at the school, with Geoff Maude, Anthony Hales, Anthony Buxton and Steven Watson. They also donated £704 to the Sir Bobby Robson Memorial Fund.

The school has bought fibreoptic lights, a light box, a projector, mirror and fluorescent lights for its sensory room.

The room is used by all children, but it will particularly benefit those with special needs by helping them to develop their physical, emotional and communication skills.

Headteacher Lynn Millar said: "I am touched that Mike and his colleagues decided to raise money for our school.

"The race night was a wonderful event."

Mike Watson said: "I've told the guys at work about the good work they do at the nursery so we thought we would see what we could do to help.

"It was a real team-effort and everyone really got involved.

"We had a great time and managed to raise some money for a very deserving cause. We've already been planning what we can do next to raise some more money for the equipment they need."