A SENSORY garden destroyed by vandals has been reopened to pupils at a New Forest school thanks to a generous donation.

Charity trustees at John Lewis department store in Southampton's WestQuay shopping centre have replaced garden ornaments at Abbotswood School after the original goods they donated were wrecked.

The Daily Echo reported in August how parents and teachers at the Totton school were devastated over the damage done to the garden, which was specially installed for its disabled pupils.

Staff at John Lewis were so appalled to hear about the incident they immediately decided to replace the items, which mainly consisted of stone animals.

Wayne Sullivan, site manager and staff governor at the Ringwood Road school, said: "We were delighted when John Lewis decided to replace the items. We were outraged and saddened that someone had taken into their minds to destroy them in the first place. The sensory garden was installed to reach out to everybody in the school. Everyone has access. It's a place for reflection."

Linda Hitchman, chairman of the charities committee for John Lewis, presented the replacement ornaments and a cheque for £50 to Abbotswood head teacher Gary Heath.