Pupils at a Kidlington primary school are enjoying a new sensory and sound garden thanks to a team of Oxford volunteers.

Eight managers from British Gas Business — based at Oxford Business Park — spent a day sprucing up the garden at St Thomas More Primary School. Headteacher Claire Robinson said staff and pupils at the Oxford Road school were delighted with the new facilities and thanked the team for helping out.

She said: "The garden was very, very overgrown. Now the children have somewhere to escape during break-time and for teachers to hold lessons.

"The project has made a huge difference to our school and provided a unique opportunity for pupils to share the wonders of the outside world in an enjoyable way."

Mrs Robinson said that a contact at the county council's Oxfordshire Education Business Partnership linked the school with the British Gas volunteers. She said: "We had formed the concept for the garden but needed man-power. They worked so hard. We are very grateful."

The hard day's labour included weeding and replanting four neglected flower beds and two vegetable plots, pruning, refurbishing seats, and constructing a xylophone and wind chime from plastic drums and "recycled bits and pieces".

Mrs Robinson said four plant pots in the garden represented different senses — pungent herbs for smell, colourful flowers for sight, prickly plants for touch and rustling reeds for sound.

Team leader Yvonne Milson said: "We had a great day and were pleased with our efforts. It was a great challenge and thoroughly rewarding. We really hope the kids like the garden."

Seven-year-old Charlotte Barnes, from Kidlington, said: "I enjoy making music on the instruments — they are very clever."