Donations, good will and plenty of man hours helped Little Thetford Acorns create a brand new sensory garden for less than £40.

The pre-school had originally applied for a grant from the National Lottery for £2,000 to fund the garden but their plans were scuppered when their application was turned down.

Undeterred, committee member Lucy Thorne jumped into action and began scouring social media and contacting local business for help.

Within days, she had collected free water butts, paint, soil, scaffolding boards and plants and more than 20 parents and grandparents signed up to lend a hand putting the garden together.

Over the course of a weekend, the volunteers completed the garden and the bill came to a paltry £37.

Mrs Thorne said: “The response was just phenomenal, every day when we came in to the pre-school there was more stuff that had been donated.

“We were given water butts, tonnes of top soil, paint for the sheds, we couldn’t believe it, it has been amazing.”

Business that donated included Ridgeons, B&Q and Little Thetford business FDS.