Wokingham

Cricketing hero Kevin Pietersen was today preparing to delight youngsters at a special needs school in Wokingham, Berkshire with tales of England's victory over Australia in the Ashes series last summer.

The England batsman, who scored an innings of 158 on the final afternoon of the epic five-match series at The Oval, is due to visit High Close School in Wokingham tomorrow morning.

Mr Pietersen is a supporter of children's charity Barnardo's which runs the Wokingham residential school.

The South African-born cricketer donated £118,000 to the charity in September after city firm BGC Partners gave him the cash in recognition of his outstanding performance in the Ashes.

However, the tour of the school tomorrow will be his first official visit to a Barnardo's project.

Mr Pietersen said: "I'm really looking forward to visiting High Close. It will give me the opportunity to really get to grips with the organisation and see the great work that it does at first-hand."

Rose Mahony, acting principal at High Close School, said: "All the staff and pupils at High Close are really pleased that Kevin has chosen our school for his first official visit.

"We hope that this will be the start of a long and beneficial relationship with Kevin and Barnardo's."

The Press Association ~ Wokingham