A CARING teacher's legacy will help bring light into the lives of special needs youngsters.

The new "light stimulation room" at Broadlands Special School in Blackburn, has been made possible thanks to donations following the death of Mrs Christine Binns.

Mrs Binns, of Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle, died suddenly at the age of 44 from a rare form of pneumonia.

She taught at a number of places in East Lancashire including the Ribble Valley, Rishton, and latterly Belthorn Primary School, Oswaldtwistle, and donations following her death raised £1,500.

Part of the money came from Belthorn pupils and there was also a donation from the Hyndburn Singers, of which she was a member for nine years.

Her husband Malcolm decided that the money should go to Broadlands which the couple's young son Stephen attended.

And he officially opened the new room which will give the three to five-year-olds a range of facilities including a light projector with effects wheels, a bubble tube and fibre optic cables which they can touch and play with.

Head teacher Mrs Helen Hebden said she was "overwhelmed" by the donation to the school and said it had been put to good use.

"The room stimulates their senses and is very therapeutic," she said.

"It acts as a calming influence on some of our more lively children - it is amazing what an effect it has on them."

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