PUPILS, staff and parents at Tortworth Primary School are celebrating the long-awaited opening of a new £30,000 playing area.

The multi-use games area, an artificial surface, similar to soft carpet, was formally opened today by Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall, having been finished back in July.

After cutting the ribbon, Mr Hall then joined some of the year one and two pupils in kicking a football around on the surface, while parents celebrated with some tea and cake.

Funding for the new facility, which replaces the school’s old out-of-use swimming pool came from a combination of sport funding grants, funding from businesses Cemex and Renishaw, and £12,000 from the Tesco Bags of Help campaign.

The Tortworth Estate were also able to help out, providing rock from the quarry to form the foundations of the pitch.

Head teacher Carol Bowes said: “It’s great to have this area as we now have more space for everyone to have fun.

“It was always the case, like many school playing fields, that a game of football could take over the whole field, with everyone else playing around the edges. Not anymore!”

Sally Morton, chairman of the school’s governors, said: “While we have lots of great outdoors for the children to enjoy at the school, we didn’t have much in the way of wet weather facilities.

“We really prioritise our outdoor area at Tortworth, especially given our amazing surroundings, so to be able to offer the children this is great.”

Mr Hall said: “It is fantastic to be here today to open this new playing facility at Tortworth Primary School.

“We are all very grateful to the community to their support, it is a wonderful thing to see everyone come together, especially when it is to encourage children to be active outdoors.

“A big thanks goes to the parents and teachers for driving this project through and getting it done.”