TOP MARKS: Boxers Chris Edwards and Scott Lawton joined Port Vale goalkeeper Joe Anyon to open a new eco garden at Kemball Special School.

The garden was created after staff at the Fenton school spent the last year fund-raising. The project was finished with help from local businesses, parents, carers and support workers.

Yesterday's opening ceremony coincided with the school winning its third green flag in a row, giving it "eco school" status for the third year running.

Headteacher Elizabeth Spooners said: "Pupils approach the garden and pass through a range of wooden toadstools and a scarecrow.

"A sensory path leads into the garden which, among the flowers and plants, has wooden homes for hedgehogs, ladybirds, butterflies, frogs and insects. We've also had a tall centrepiece made and donated by a local company, and it looks fantastic."

The school, which caters for 50 children with severe learning difficulties, achieved "outstanding" at the last Ofsted inspection.

Mr Lawton, left, and Mr Edwards, right, are pictured about to cut the ribbon with Joshua Hammond, centre, as fellow Kemball pupils Alex Carroll-Bowen, Stacey Martin and Emilia Richards look on.