TWO brand-new classrooms have been officially opened at Coaley Primary School.

At a cost of around £300,000, the classrooms were built during the summer to replace old terrapin buildings in the playground.

The three terrapin buildings were temporary classrooms but one had been in use for twenty years.

The new facilities have been in use since the start of term in September but the opening was held back until the children could make their presence felt by creating displays for the walls.

Fifty invited guests, including three former headteachers, were shown around the new facilities after the official opening.

The oldest former pupil still living in the village, William Hobbs, 89, was asked to cut the ribbon, assisted by the school's youngest pupil, four-year-old Morgan Van't Hoff.

The vicar, the Rev Ian Robb, thanked headteacher Maria Wells for overseeing the project and she in turn thanked the education authority, the governors, King Builders and the parents and Friends of the school.

Mr Robb said: "The new classrooms have given us more space and have brought everything together under one roof. They are brighter, warmer, much safer and good for the working life of the school."

The event was rounded off with a bouquet being presented to Mrs Wells, who in turn presented some gardening vouchers to the foreman of the builders.

Pictured: Morgan Van't Hoff, 4, the youngest pupil at Coaley Primary school and Williams Hobbs, 89, the oldest past pupil, pulled the ribbon last week to open new classrooms at the school GSR960V03