CHILDREN at St Peter's Pre-School can enjoy a new sensory garden thanks to donations from the Droitwich community.

Last December the project faced a major set-back when thieves stole a large roll of turf, preventing staff at the charity-led school from completing the garden and leaving parents with a £200 bill the replace the grass.

Upon hearing about the theft, several residents and organisations lent support to St Peter's and the garden has finally been opened.

Claire Welch, chair of the St Peter's Pre-School management committee, said: "We have had an amazing response from local businesses and Droitwich residents who have helped us transform our garden into an amazing sensory garden and play area for our children.

"We have been overwhelmed with the response and it restores our faith in people. There are some amazing people out there."

Among the list of kind benefactors, she particularly thanked Morrisons in Droitwich, which donated money to buy gardening equipment, Climate Solutions, which donated Astroturf, Neil Bates of Droitwich Tennis Club who has helped organise fundraisers for the school, and Renate Spickenreuther who made a considerable donation.

Mrs Spickenreuther officially opened the garden with Mr Bates on the same day the charity-led pre-school celebrate its 40th anniversary.

The garden features a sensory garden, musical instruments and a playhouse and will be used by all the pupils at the Pre-School.

A fundraising event for St Peter's will be held at Droitwich Tennis Club, in Church Lane, on Saturday, April 9 from 1.30pm.

The Pre-School has been established for more than 25 years and is in the church vestry, adjacent to the main church building.

For more information about St Peter's call 07980 070023.