Girls at Malpas's Bishop Heber School have been given a boost by hotel giant Carden Park, who have donated £300 to help the under-16 netball team and three members of their teaching staff to travel to Barbados in February 2019.

The girls were presented with the cheque on Friday by Carden Park’s general manager Hamish Fergusonm, and are hoping to take inspiration from the fantastic success of England Roses at the Commonwealth Games in Australia last month.

Louise Richardson, coach and head of Year 7 and 8, is hoping that the sport’s current popularity and success will help the team on their upcoming tour,and is delighted with the gesture.

She said: "We’ve had a smile on our faces all week. It’s such a kind gesture from a place that we know, and love and it gives us that extra incentive to go on and succeed in the tour."

Headteacher David Curry, was equally delighted. He said: “I would like to thank Hamish and Carden Park Estate for their generous donation of £300 to support the school’s forthcoming Netball Tour to Barbados in 2019.

"It is fantastic to recognises the value of this international trip for students – it’s a life changing experience for the students. We are very proud of our association with Carden Park and appreciate enormously the support the school has received form the owners and staff for over the past 15 years.

"The school has a long-established relationship with Carden Park in many areas of school life including sponsoring careers and arts festivals, as well as charitable events for Sixth Form business students. I truly believe the school's partnership with this business only enhances the opportunities available to our students."