A COMMUNITY has helped create a Japanese garden and pond at a school.

The garden area at Westlands school in Thornaby, which mostly has children with special educational needs, will be used as a quiet area for the children.

As well as the garden, there is a fish and wildlife pond and a poultry unit.

Those who assisted included Stockton councillor Liz Fleming, who helped build the pond and lay the lawn, Asda which donated £300, Thornaby Town Council, which donated totem poles and paid transport costs, and Ravensworth Nurseries, which donated hedges.

Pupil Adam Harrison, who was involved in the project, said: "We could not have made our garden without the help of all these people. Thank you everyone."

Headteacher John Jefferson said: "A lot of our students, who aged from young children up to 16, are autistic or have severe learning difficulties, so a quiet area like this is really invaluable. We would like to thank everyone who has helped us."