A mother's plea for a prize to help raise funds for Carlisle's James Rennie School has received a response that has already got Christmas wrapped up for its pupils.

Wendy Banks wrote to Angela Curran at local law firm Burnetts asking for the firm to donate a raffle prize to a race night being held to raise funds for festive celebrations.

As a member of the Kingstown school's Parent, Teachers and Friends Association (PTFA), Mrs Banks had explained that the group was struggling to raise the £2,500 they needed to fund activities including transport to a nativity at St Cuthbert’s Church, a Christmas party and a visit from Father Christmas with gifts for all the students.

James Rennie School has 145 students aged between three and 19. It caters for pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties. Some have autism and a wide variety of disabilities.

Angela is a long-serving trustee of The Percy Hedley Foundation in Newcastle, itself a specialist school for children with cerebral palsy, children with hearing or visual impairments and children with speech, language and communication difficulties.

She is also the law firm's head of medical negligence and serious injury and specialises in the sensitive area of birth trauma cases.

Angela said: "I’ve seen first-hand what a fantastic and enriching experience Christmas can be to children with learning difficulties and disabilities so when Wendy told me that the PTFA was finding it a challenge to raise funds, we didn’t hesitate to jump in with an offer of help.

"Many of our clients are current and former students at James Rennie so we are delighted to be able to support the school in this way."

Angela presented a cheque for £2,500 to pupils and staff at James Rennie recently.