FUND raising for vital equipment for a special school has taken an unusual turn with the organisation of a beer festival.

Those behind the event hope to fund improvements to outdoor spaces at Poole's Montacute School.

The school was completely rebuilt two years ago but government funding only paid for the building work, leaving school staff with no cash for essential equipment such as hoists for the most immobile children.

The beer festival will be held at Parkstone Trades and Labour Club and is being organised by John Hutchings.

He said: "We have members who work at the school and those with children there so we decided to try to raise some money for outdoor equipment.

"I don't think many people realise the funding only paid for the shell of the building and that hundreds of thousands of pounds needs to be raised to equip it properly.

"Whilst the school was lucky enough to get a fabulous brand new building this did not include any funding for the things that really add to the children and young people’s lives, items such as soft play areas, specialist play equipment and calming multisensory communication equipment .

"Most of these things are not little extras but essential to the pupil’s learning and wellbeing."

Vicky Lumber, a club member whose seven-year-old son, Ashton, is a pupil at Montacute, said: "All they've got outside is a big field which is ot accessible to all the children.

"They would love to have some climbing equipment and swings and roundabouts which are accessible to wheelchairs."

John, who spent many years working with the Wimborne Beer Festival, plans to hold the new festival on April 21 and 22 with three different sessions on the Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening.

Tickets cost £8, to include a commemorative beer glass, a programme and beer tokens. More tokens can be purchased on the day and there will be a huge range of beers to sample and entertainment.

Anyone who wishes to buy tickets should go to ptlc.co.uk/beerfestival