SCHOOLCHILDREN are helping a burnt-out M40 service station rise from the ashes. Pupils from Bicester’s St Mary’s School have delivered a special roll of wallpaper decorated with pictures and messages for staff at Cherwell Valley Services, which was wrecked in a major fire last month.

Temporary facilities are being provided in a marquee, but a larger temporary building should open in July.

St Mary’s School has strong links with the service station and many of the pupils’ pictures and drawings were hung in its corridors.

Doreen Greville, of the school’s PTA, said: “Rather than sending a card, we thought it would be nice to do something different.”

She added: “They are going to put the wallpaper in the new building.”

Area general manager Justin Shell said: “It was a very nice thought by the children.”

Plans for a new service area are expected to be submitted to Cherwell District Council in the next few weeks, and rebuilding work could start by the end of the summer.

Moto hopes the new service station will open in May next year.