Children at a special needs school are looking forward to fun days out, following a donation by local businesses.

Companies based at the Thames Business Advice Centre in Grove, gave £200 to the Fitzwaryn School in neighbouring Wantage, to help equip a new minibus.

The bus, which was presented to the school by the Lady Taverners the fundraising arm of the celebrity-sporting charity the Lord's Taverners last month, followed 18 months of fund- raising by supporters.

The special school caters for 84 children between the ages of three and 16. The minibus will be used to transport groups of pupils to sporting events, field trips and on holidays.

The latest donation will help equip the minibus to allow it to be used by wheelchair users.

TBAC Centre manager John Waterfield, who presented the cheque, said: "The centre has now grown to a size where it can start to help local groups."

The Friends of Fitzwaryn raised £17,000 for the minibus with the help of local charities, businesses and well-wishers in the community.