SEVERELY disabled pupils at Banbury's Frank Wise Special School can get into the swimming pool quicker thanks to a donation from Banbury Cross Round Table.

A cheque for £3,814 has bought two hoists to lift pupils from wheelchairs on to benches to speed up changing times.

Previously, the youngsters had to be lifted by hand. One hoist is in the boys changing room and one is in the girls.

A third, mobile hoist, also paid for by the Round Table donation, can be carried on the school's mini-bus.

Headteacher Kevin Griffiths said: "This is a big step forward for us and the hoists will make a big difference to pupils' lives.

"Changing for swimming will now be quicker than doing it by hand, and the children will get longer in the pool. The mobile hoist will be a great help on day trips and during integration visits to other schools."

Round Table chairman David Dean said: "The Frank Wise School is our nominated charity this year and we wanted to do something that would make a real difference.