Excited youngsters were today awaiting the completion of a £27,000 playground to make break times fun at their school in Benfleet.
Jotmans Hall Primary, in the High Road, is investing the cash to develop a boggy, under-used part of their school playing field.
It will be transformed into both a new playground and a soft playing surface which will feature adventure equipment.
The move follows a growth in pupil numbers. Five years ago it had 290 youngsters and today, it has 305, meaning that better facilities are needed.
A school spokesman said: "The children are very excited about their new playground. It will give them a lot more space in which to play.
"The younger children are particularly looking forward to playing on the adventure equipment.
"We have been wanting to develop the under-used land situated behind our detachable classrooms for a long while and we are delighted that work has finally started."
The transformation has been funded partly by a grant from Essex County Council and by the school's parent and teacher association, friends of Jotmans Hall. The remainder was taken from the school's budget.
Work has just started, in order to coincide with the school's Easter break.
It is expected to be completed mid-May, allowing pupils to enjoy the new grounds during the end of their summer term.
The new facilities will be used by all the children at the school, although those in the infant classes are expected to make more use of the adventure equipment in the soft playing area.
The school were eager to stress that the football pitch has not been touched.
Published Friday, April 11, 2003
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