GLADIATOR star Jane Omorogbe, Rio, roared into St Nicholas School, Chippenham to present pupils with a specially made £30,000 mini-bus on Monday.

The Variety Club children's charity provided the special needs school with the new bus that has wheelchair access

The school has been busy raising money for the specialised vehicle and received the greatest contribution of £19,000 from Breakaway Children's Charity.

The Zurich Network Advice Foundation, which helps people facing disadvantage, also contributed £5,000.

Funding for the new bus also came from local organisations including North Wiltshire District Council, Bath Boles, Woolworths and members of RAF Lyneham.

The school have also been busy raising money over the last year by holding events including a pamper night, a Christmas fair and a race night.

Sue Jones, chairman of the parents' committee, who has a son at the school, said the bus was a wonderful facility.

"It has all the safety equipment and is a 17-seater. It is brilliant because it means we can take the children out on trips," she said.

When the bus arrived at the school the special presentation was marked by members of the 47 Squadron from RAF Lyneham who made a fly-past over the school in the morning.

At 11.30am Jane Omorogbe, Rio from the popular television series Gladiator, drove up to the school on her Yamaha motorbike.

The children were delighted to see the star and keen to get her autograph and have their photograph taken with her.

An auction held at St Nicholas Special Needs School raised more than £500, but Tony Blair's pen was snapped up at a bargain price of £28.

The auction was held at the school's summer fair as part of fundraising for a new £50,000 wheelchair friendly playground.

There was a range of interesting goods and pledges on offer to the highest bidder including a signed Gareth Gates CD, signed photos of Will Young and Westlife, a giant porky pig handed in by an anonymous donor, a DC07 vacuum cleaner from Dyson in Malmesbury, and days out at Center Parcs and Longleat.

Ironically the giant fluffy pink pig raised £50, almost twice as much as the Prime Minister's pen.

The day proved so successful that more than £2,000 was raised.

Sue Jones, chairman of the school's parents, teachers and friends association said: "It was a huge success and there were lots of bargains to be had.

"Now we have raised all the money for the bus and that has arrived we are on to the next fundraiser which is the playground."

The playground fund has been boosted by £1,000 prize money won in a national competition run by the Parent Teacher Association, for its fundraising and dedication to building a sensory garden at the school.