A POOLE school is celebrating a newly-repaired roof thanks to generous businesses.

Heartless thieves stripped the lead from the roof at Montacute Special School a month ago, leaving it open to heavy rains – flooding a main corridor and damaging equipment.

But, after reading of the children’s plight in the Daily Echo, help was at hand thanks to Spectrum Property Care, whose staff worked through the weekend earlier this month on their own time to repair the damage with a non-lead alternative, with help from Optima Scaffolding and Jewsons, which provided the materials.

The heartwarming act has amazed staff at the school.

Maintenance manager Lionel Chamberlain said: “It was a total surprise to get this offer of help - it came out of the blue and has made us so happy.

“The roof was totally fixed at the weekend by Spectrum Property Care and Optima Scaffolding. Their team came down in their own time, in bad weather, and didn’t stop until the roof was mended.”

Fundraiser Vicki Edwards said: “There were a lot of smiley faces at Montacute when we received this news from Spectrum Property Care and Optima Scaffolding. How totally amazing.

“It means the infants area won’t flood over the winter months, and that the roof will hopefully now survive the winter.

“This company responded to the Echo article and decided to take action to help us. The money we will save from having to fix the roof ourselves can now be reallocated to a lovely item for the new playground.

“We are so grateful to get this support from local companies and it shows just how lucky we are to live in such a helpful community.”

Paul Bryan, Managing Director of Spectrum Property Care, said: “We are mightily proud of our staff and suppliers for coming to the aid of the school and helping out in the wider community.

“We are all delighted that the school building is safe again and that the children can continue their precious education in a safe and happy environment.”

The school is half way through Monty’s Appeal to fundraise to equip their new school, which is due to open in April 2015.