A school catering for children with learning difficulties is hosting its first music festival to raise funds for new equipment.

Oak View School in Whitehills Road, Loughton will host the festival on Friday in order to fund the purchase of a piece of sensory equipment called an OptiMusic Beam.

Headmistress Dianne Ryan described the equipment as a ‘wonderful resource’ and will use it for music classes, story-telling and interactive learning, as well as the development of motor skills.

Oak View, which currently educates around 85 children between the ages of three and 19, also wants to raise awareness and help its students become more integrated within the community.

The festival will see Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Mickey Damoulin perform, as well as a steel band and some of Oak View’s own teachers and pupils.

Face painting and refreshment will also be available.

Tickets are on sale from the Oak View reception for £5 for under 12s, £10 for 12+ and £25 for families or groups of four.