A school for deaf children in St Albans has received a £4,000 grant thanks to Tesco’s ‘Bags of Help’ initiative.

Heathlands School for deaf children in Heathlands Drive will use the money to buy new sports and play equipment for the upper school.

The school business manager, Carol Bush, said: “The new play equipment purchased with the Bags of Help funding is really popular with the children. It has added a more structured playtime, especially for those pupils who tended to struggle to find an activity to join in with at break times.”

Tesco raised the money through the sale of carrier bags, with customers voting in store for which local project should secure the funding.

St Albans store manager Nafir Naseer said: “We’re proud to have helped Heathlands in improving the sport and play opportunities for the children, and are thrilled to hear of the benefit this has had on pupils’ learning.”