A SPECIAL school in Hexham has been given a new minibus funded by two local charities.

The £35,000 minibus for Hexham Priory School was funded by Northumberland Wooden Spoon with support from the Stay Strong Stu foundation, set up in memory of Tynedale RFC player Stu Ridley, who died from an inoperable brain tumour in 2015.

The minibus will be used to take pupils at the school, which is for youngsters aged from two to 19 with severe, profound and multiple learning disabilities, to sporting activities and events and will also help older students develop their social and travel independence.

Hexham Courant: Pupil Isabella in front of the school's new minibus. Picture: Ian Smith.Pupil Isabella in front of the school's new minibus. Picture: Ian Smith.

Headteacher Liz Davison and pupils at the school were handed the keys to the minibus last week by BBC television presenter Dawn Thewlis and representatives of the charities.

Ms Davison said: "It means such a lot to all of our students.

"It means that we can offer so much more than what our school buildings can provide, we can use it to go to offsite therapies, swimming, riding, to help them with their independence and their work experience, and residentials.

"It really is vital for the work we do. We are truly grateful."

Francis Watson-Armstrong, president of Wooden Spoon Northumberland, said: “It has been a humbling experience to meet these lovely young people and their teachers today and to see first-hand the difference Northumberland Wooden Spoon Society and the Stay Strong Stu Foundation is making in our community.

“The Wooden Spoon Society in Northumberland supports projects that make a positive impact on the lives of children and young people with disabilities or who face disadvantage. Every single penny we raise stays and goes directly to improving the lives of children here in Northumberland.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated towards these causes that really are making a big difference to young people’s lives."

Celia Ridley, Stu's mother, said: "It's wonderful that they have got the minibus to help these youngsters.

"To see that Stuart's legacy is still going, it means a lot."