MONTHS of fundraising finally paid off when Wickham Market primary school opened its new outdoor play areaThe £20,000 project play area has been more than a year in the planning and was officially opened by area education officer John Drinkwater.

MONTHS of fundraising finally paid off when Wickham Market primary school opened its new outdoor play area

The £20,000 project play area has been more than a year in the planning and was officially opened by area education officer John Drinkwater.

Catering for the school's reception class pupils, the play area offers a range of activities designed to tie in with the foundation stage curriculum.

It has an all weather surface meaning it can be used all year round.

At its opening, parents, governors and children celebrated with a huge cake and took part in a variety of arts and crafts.

Suzanne Odhams, the school's foundation stage coordinator, has played a key part in setting up the project.

She said: "It's taken a long time to get there, we've been fundraising for over a year, but it's been well worth it.

"The children were so excited about getting out there. It's been finished for a few weeks now but today's the first day they've been able to get out and use it."

The project was funded through a mixture of government grants and fundraising by parents and staff.