Children with autism and special needs will be able take part in out-of-school activities after their school was given a £35,000 coach.

Richard Desmond, owner of Express Newspapers and founder of Northern & Shell, donated the coach to Jewish Community Secondary School (JCoSS) in Castlewood Road, New Barnet.

The coach was sponsored by Mr Desmond’s two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Angel Millie, who visited the school earlier this week with her family.

Mr Desmond had previously contributed £2.5million to help build JCoSS, the only Jewish school in the UK to cater for both mainstream children and autistic children.

JCoSS will use the coach to take children with autism and special needs to sporting events such as swimming and bowling,as well as everyday activities such as shopping.