A joint community art project between two Wandsworth schools is gathering pace after a number of successful meetings between the groups.

Pupils from Garratt Park School, Earlsfield, a special school for children with moderate learning difficulties, autism and communicational difficulties, have been getting together with a group of Year 10 students from Chestnut Grove School, Balham, to design and build two art installations in the grounds of Garratt Park.

These will include a series of totem poles that represent the different continents, with a mural of the globe and portraits of those taking part.

The aim is for the Chesnut Grove students to put their leadership skills to the test, by working as mentors for the students from the Autistic Resource Base at Garratt Park, and to help the Garratt Park children to develop their communication skills.

Anthony Lipski, manager of the Autistic Resource Base at Garratt Park School said: "It has been wonderful to see the way in which the two groups have gradually befriended each other.

"I am so impressed by the grace and dignity of the students from Chestnut Grove, who have made real efforts to understand the difficulties with which our students with Autism struggle.

"They have shown patience and good regard and I know that it has been a meaningful time for our students, who really look forward to their fortnightly visits."

The group will now embark on the practical part of the project - putting in the poles and painting the mural, which was entirely designed by the Chestnut Grove students.

Once it is completed there will be an opening ceremony in July.