PUPILS in Old Sodbury have been treated to new £11,000 play equipment funded by donations, grants and events held by the community.


Children at Old Sodbury C of E Primary School played with the new equipment for the first time on Thursday, February 5.


The children designed a castle/fort structure which was handed to a local play equipment supplier Playahead as a blueprint and created earlier this month.


The creation cost just over £11,000 with funds raised by the charitable group, The Friends of Sodbury School Association (FOSSA), through a variety of social events and activities throughout the last couple of years as well as receiving donations from local trusts and groups including The Townsland Trust, The Denman Trust, Sodbury Town Council, the school itself and individual donations from parents.


FOSSA member at the school, of nearly 100 pupils aged between five and 11-years-old, Christina Williams, said: "We had a volunteering workday that attracted around 10 dedicated parents for  initial clearing site of the existing, very much beloved HMS Sodbury, a boat shaped play equipment with climbing rope, that had reached the end of its viable life, showing significant signs of deterioration and had less than a year left according to health and safety inspections.


"The new  play equipment would be expected and guaranteed to last a minimum of 15 years, so future generations of the village’s children will make use of it.


"Investments like the castle/fort climbing frame ensures that the school will be able to thrive and attract children to full capacity, being the heart of the village for many years to come."


A celebration opening will be held within the next two weeks to officially unveil the new play area to those who supported the project.