PRISONERS have given something back to the community by building play equipment for Farnworth school children.

Forest Bank prisoners have spent months building, carving and painting two play trains for the playground of All Saints Primary School, Devon Street.

For inside the school building, the men have also made bookshelves with seating for children and sensory pads -- made of different textures to stimulate children's hands and feet.

The Mayor of Bolton, CllrJohn Walsh, unveiled the trains -- which have three carriages each with seating for the youngsters -- at a grand launch that was also attended by prison officers.

Headteacher Lesley Gutteridge said: "The children are absolutely delighted with the new equipment. Some children don't want to run around at playtime so this is a lovely place for them to come and sit down with friends.

"The trains have also been used by the children for imaginative play. Quite a few of them have been pretending to be train drivers."

Reception teacher Julie Franklin has been the driving force in the school in setting up links with the prison.

The project began after Mrs Gutteridge and Mrs Franklin spent a day at Forest Bank, near Salford, where they were shown round workshops where prisoners learn skills and work towards qualifications which they will be able to use once they have served their time.

Prison officers have even been into the school and run football sessions with some of the children.

All the work was done within the prison and then transported to the school.

The prisoners were not paid for their work and the materials for the equipment were donated.

Mrs Gutteridge said: "I would like to express a big thank you to the prisoners and their families. Those involved in these workshops have produced goods of high quality. They have also paid back something to the community."

At the launch ceremony, children presented a cheque for £200 that they had raised for Guide Dogs for the Blind through a school red nose day.