BUSINESS sponsorship has saved Ridgeway School art department from having to abandon print-making from the curriculum.

The enterprising deal was struck by the school's head of art, Brian Britton.

Realising the cost of buying the commercial ink used in print making was getting too much for his tight budget, he called up Coates Screenings, of Bristol, the company he buys his ink from.

He said: "When I phoned them up they said almost immediately that they would be able to do something to help."

They have agreed to supply the school with more than £500 worth of ink a year.

All the school has to do is to agree to let Coates use a few examples of the children's' work for publicity.

Mr Britton said: "It was really looking like we might have to stop print-making because we have a very limited budget. I think it was a most generous offer."