A Colchester nursery has been given a £5,000 donation to help children with additional needs.

Stepping Stones Play and Learn Group is just one of 15 recipients of the East of England Co-op's Community Cares Fund.

The fund is donating a total of £200,000, shared across 54 East Anglian charities.

The gift to Stepping Stones will pay the salaries of key workers helping children with complex additional needs.

These children include those from disadvantaged backgrounds, children with disabilities, and other children struggling in traditional education environments.

It allows the nursery to help families that may otherwise be unable to attend early years settings.

Liz Taverner, senior administrator at Stepping Stones, spoke about the impact of the donation, stating it will "make a real difference in the lives of those in our local community and beyond".

She said: "We're so grateful to have the support of East of England Co-op. The roles of our key workers and their impact on the lives of the children and families they support cannot be understated."

Other Essex-based charities and community groups also stand to benefit from the East of England Co-op's generosity.

These include the British Gymnastics Foundation, Proud of Mersea, St Helena Hospice, and Braintree Rethink Art and social Group.

East of England Co-op chief executive, Doug Field OBE said: "This latest round of funding from our Community Cares Fund will directly benefit over 43,000 people."

For those wishing to apply for future funding from the East of England Co-op, information can be found on their website.