A project to create a sensory garden for Chessington schoolchildren with special educational needs is moving forward at pace, and now organisers are looking for help.

Three schools – Chessington Community College, St Philip’s School and Ellingham Primary School – are working together with Chessington World of Adventures and Chessington Garden Centre.

Groundworks are nearly finished, and the project will be handed over to the schools, which are now looking for residents to volunteer to help complete the work before the next school year begins in September.

Tracy Dale, chairwoman of Chessington College Parent Teacher Association, said: "We would like to send a huge thanks to Chessington Garden Centre, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and Chessington World of Adventures, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. We cannot thank them enough for all they have done so far.

"We are building a list of volunteers that would like to take on projects, or companies that would like to spend their 'charity days' working with us over the next six months. Projects will start in March and run through to completion in September, with a grand opening at the start of the next academic year."

Specific skills needed include carpentry, joining, bricklaying and planting trees and vegetables.

The team is also looking for general help, item donations or even people to make cakes and cups of tea for the volunteers.

Councillor Andrea Craig said: "What a wonderful project. Created by CCC, and now coming to life with the talented help and support of Chessington Garden Centre, CWOA and local volunteers and businesses. If you have green fingers and are local, please get involved in this fab project."

Anyone interested in offering help of any kind is asked to contact Tracy on tdale11@ccc.rbksch.org.