Schoolchildren celebrated the official unveiling of 10 new playground benches last week thanks to community generosity.

Members of Kingfisher Hall Primary Academy school council thanked local businesses, colleges and a group of helpful parents for the benches, including carpenter T Brewer, of Hertford Road, who provided the wood.

The council, made up of children aged five to eight, were encouraged to share their ideas at the start of the school year about what they felt they needed in the school, and unanimously wanted more benches.

Head teacher Emma Breckenridge said: “We have a brilliant school council and PTA. I am particularly pleased that the school council had the confidence to be so ambitious in the scale of what they wanted for their school and their fellow pupils. The benches will be enjoyed for many years to come.”