Autistic children will be able to play instruments to their heart's content after their school won a national competition.

The Chinnor Resource Unit, based at Lord Williams's School, in Thame, will receive £2,000 worth of instruments.

Sebastian Goh, 14, tries his hand at playing an acoustic guitar.

Until now, it has had to borrow instruments from the main school music department.

Music teacher Carol Brooks entered the competition, run by instruments supplier Intermusic, on behalf of the unit. She said: "Music can sometimes help with the communication process. The instruments offer a medium or vehicle for musical conversations' and self-expression.

"I noticed that our instruments kept on disappearing and turning up in the autistic unit, then I realised they didn't have any themselves and had to borrow ours from the main school, so I thought it would be nice if they could have their own."