PUPILS from a special school in Cirencester have enjoyed their first scenic day out to Westonbirt Arboretum thanks to two Cirencester charities.

Students from Paternoster School whose physical difficulties previously prevented them from going on the arboretum trip were this year able to go because Cirencester's Rotary and Round Table clubs funded the trip and the use of a specially made vehicle.

Rotary has worked with the school before and was able to fund the entire day out but with the only means of getting to Westonbirt being a standard bus, some of the children who were more physically challenged were not able to attend.

A volunteer of the Jumbulance, a cleverly adapted vehicle which offers a specially designed lift, space for a large number of wheelchairs, adapted beds and other necessary equipment, approached Round Table and asked if they could help raise money for the school to hire the vehicle.

The charity not only agreed to the request but members unanimously decided to fund the whole cost of the Jumbulance hire.

Round Table community services officer Adam Baggs said: "It was fantastic to help those who previously couldn't go on the trips have an amazing day with the other children."

The trip was mostly funded by Rotary as part of their national initiative Kids Out.