A Heybridge social club has donated £500 to a local school to help fund its new project which will see its outdoor classroom expanded to aid pupils' mental health.

The president of Heybridge Blackwater Rotary Club, Councillor Michael Edwards, presented the cheque for £500 to Jonathan Sly, Heybridge Co-operative Academy's deputy head, last Tuesday.

The school, on The Street in Heybridge, safeguards and supports the attainment of secondary-aged children who are educated outside of the mainstream school system because of exclusion, illness or other reasons.

It is now broadening its curriculum to benefit from its grounds and local environment, with a focal point of this being an allotment-style plot that each class will look after.

Pupils will work together to prepare and care for their allotment, and decide what to grow in it.

Councillor Edwards said: "This is a very important project here in the heart of the local community, which Heybridge Blackwater Rotary is incredibly pleased to support."

After Michael presented the cheque, Jonathan took a group of three rotary club members around the academy, including former president Malcolm Myles and secretary Paula Spenceley, to show them the work that is taking place for the new project.

Each of the school's 14 classes - with between five and eight pupils each - will create its own allotment to grow vegetables and flowers.

The vegetables grown will be used in the school's food technology lessons and the flowers will be given to local residents and residential homes in Heybridge and Maldon.

The school is also planting over 150 trees in its grassy area.