CHELSEA Football Club and McDonald's have teamed up with Heritage House School, Chesham, to provide pupils with a £13,000 outdoor playground.

The school, in Cameron Road, had been fundraising to build a completely new playground to meet the changing requirements of its early years special needs pupils.

It had raised approximately £4,800 from a Christmas bazaar and indulgence evening towards the total cost and staff estimated that it would take until the end of the academic year to raise the rest of the funds.But two unexpectedly large donations have meant that the school's 78 pupils could be enjoying their adventure playground in time for the summer term.

One of the mums from the school's parent teacher association works at Stamford Bridge and persuaded the club to donate the proceeds of their raffle to the project.

During one of the champion's home games, faithful Chelsea supporters helped to raise £4,715 for the playground.

Deputy headteacher Suzanne Pennington said the McDonald's charity arm, the Ronald McDonald Foundation, had also decided to support the school with a £3,500 donation for specialist play equipment including a wheelchair hammock and swing.

Mrs Pennington said: "The money has been a great help and we are very grateful to all the donors and everyone who helped to fundraise for the school.

"Part of the money will be spent on resurfacing and landscaping and the rest of the money will be put towards buying specialist play equipment such as an interactive activity wall with detachable magnetic pieces and Velcro strips.

"There will also be a giant spinning teacup and sand and water tray large enough for the children to stand up in to play.

"With this extra money we hope to start work in two weeks' time and the playground should be ready for when the children get back from their half-term break."

Mrs Pennington is placing an order for the play equipment this week.

The school has also invited Chelsea and England players Frank Lampard and John Terry for the official opening ceremony.