A special school in Warrington is a finalist in a national competition where it could win a £5,000 prize.

Fox Wood Special School, which provides support to children with complex learning needs, is one of 12 schools in the running for Selco Builders Warehouse’s Community Heroes competition.

This contest had nearly 2,000 entries from schools across the UK.

Open until November 30, a public vote will decide the winner.

The school is hoping to win the £5,000 top prize, which would enable significant improvements to its services, including making the play area fully wheelchair accessible with a wheelchair swing and trampoline.

Rachael Penn, PTA chair at Fox Wood, said: "We work with some of the most vulnerable children in society with the most significant and complex needs.

"We want to help all of our children, and their families, to shine through providing really meaningful and exciting learning opportunities.

"We want to buy new equipment that will benefit their day and their health.

"If we were lucky enough to win the £5,000 from Selco, we would make our play area fully wheelchair accessible with a wheelchair swing and wheelchair trampoline.

"The school budget just doesn't stretch to things like this so it would be a huge boost."

Votes can be cast online.

Each of the 12 finalists, selected by judges over the past six months, has already won £500 worth of building materials from Selco, which has a branch on Milner Street in Warrington.

Simon Humpage, head of multi-channel marketing at Selco, said: "Our Community Heroes campaign has once again captured the country’s imagination with nearly 2,000 good causes getting involved.

"We have already supported a dozen monthly winners with £6,000 worth of product and we’re excited to head into the next stage of the competition.

"We’ve had some amazing entries so Fox Wood Special School has done exceptionally well to make it this far.

"The prize money would make a huge difference to the work they do in the local area."

Selco is a nationwide builders' warehouse with a focus on helping tradespeople complete their jobs as 'effectively as possible'.

Their services include a digital presence with Click & Deliver and Click & Collect services, an app, and a Dial & Deliver telephone service.