Children were delighted when television's Ground Force team transformed their concrete schoolyard into a glittering garden.

Alan Titchmarsh, Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh spent two and a half days creating the garden at Hillside School in Foredown Road, Portslade.

They unveiled their finished work yesterday, to the delight of children, parents and staff.

Alan dressed as Father Christmas and handed out presents at a party and the Southdowns Concert Band played the Ground Force theme tune.

The project was filmed for the Ground Force Christmas special, due to be broadcast on BBC1 on Christmas Day.

Programme makers Endemol approached the school, which caters for 76 children with special needs, aged four to 19, in September.

Headteacher Bob Wall had to keep the visit a secret from all but a select few until he was finally able to tell staff last Tuesday.

However, Jan Porter, the longest-serving teaching assistant and keen gardener, was kept in the dark until yesterday.

She was told she was needed at the Jean Saunders Centre for Special Needs in Brighton while the TV team moved in.

Mr Wall said: "It came as a complete shock to her when the garden was ready. People were crying with joy - well, I was, anyway."

The concrete strip between two buildings was repaved, filled with trees and plants, lights, a statue of a pixie, a fountain and a boat.

Alan painted a shed with a scene showing the Palace Pier surrounded by blue skies, white clouds and seagulls.

Charlie feared several times they would not finish the job in time for yesterday's deadline.

She said: "We made a good start on Wednesday but on Thursday it all went a bit slow.

"Although we were here from Wednesday to Friday, we didn't have the full three days because we had to be ready for the afternoon party.

"There was a lot of stress on Friday morning - we made ourselves start an hour earlier than usual, at half seven, which was a bit of a shock to the system."

Alan said: "People always say, 'Oh, you always finish on time.' But every time, you worry - is this going to be the one where we fail?

"Luckily, the whole experience has been wonderful. The children have been here each day and have spent gradually more and more time staring.

"The people here have been very friendly and ineffably patient. It has been very exciting for us to be here."

Mr Wall said: "It has been hectic, wet and muddy at times, but everyone is absolutely delighted with how the garden has turned out."

Workers at Southwick firm D A Dray and Sons were asked to provide the electrics.

Kevin Dray said: "I got a call from the school on Thursday asking if I wanted to help fit a water feature with Charlie Dimmock. I was there like a shot.

"She was just as she comes across on the TV. She was totally into her job and there was no shirking about. There was a terrific atmosphere there."

He helped install a fountain which is activated when people walk past.

The new garden was designed to appeal to the children's senses, with bright lights and hanging wind chimes and bells.

The team arrived in Brighton on Tuesday.

Charlie went horse-riding with some of the children, while Tommy took others on a visit to Brighton seafront and the Palace Pier.