TEACHERS and staff are set to benefit from a new school garden thanks to the work of Dorset Freemasons.

Over two days they refurbished a garden at Penwithen Special School in Dorchester to give it a new lease of life.

Twenty-two volunteers from lodges in Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester gave up their weekend to carry out the work and £1,500 was donated from them to buy all the materials.

They created a quiet area for teaching and relaxation outside of the normal classroom environment and Sally Downs, headteacher at the school, said the staff were delighted with the garden and they were all looking forward to using it.

She said; "It is fantastic and staff, if they get the chance, will be able to use it to get some peace and quiet."

The project is part of the National Freemasonary in the Community Week, which finished yesterday and aims to benefit young people as well as the community as a whole.

The garden and new furniture, which is being made by some Freemasons, was being officially be presented to staff and pupils during a ceremony on yesterday afternoon at the school.