VOLUNTEERS from Zurich have helped to promote healthy eating at a Gorse Hill special school with the creation of a new allotment.

Half a dozen employees from the Swindon insurance firm donned their wellies and gardening gear to set up the vegetable patch at St Luke's School in Cricklade Road.

The school approached the company following the success of a similar project last year and pupils are now looking forward to eating their own home-grown produce.

PE teacher Tas Stamatopoulos, who was involved in the project, said: "We created a smaller allotment last year, but because it was so successful, we contacted Zurich and asked if they would consider us for one of their employee challenges.

"We then had six or seven Zurich employees in on Monday and Tuesday to create the new allotment and, at the same time, some of our pupils built a fence to close off the allotment."

The allotment will see potatoes, beans, sweetcorn, lettuce, strawberries and cabbages grown, all of which will be eaten by pupils and teachers at the school.

"Last year we had so many lettuces that staff bought the ones that were left over," added Mr Stamatopoulos.

"The children have really taken an interest in the allotment and it makes them realise food does not only come from Tesco."