12850/1GAZETTE & HERALD: A new £240,000 hall funded by the community was officially opened at Langley Fitzurse Primary School last week.

The hall has been in development for more than four years and last June builders started work on the Kington Langley site.

Governor Nick Elkins was the architect behind the project who gave his time and expertise free of charge.

The new hall will be used for assembly, PE, dinners and teaching. The building includes the hall, entrance foyer, offices, storeroom and kitchen.

Head teacher Lynn Evans said the previous hall, which is now being used as a classroom, was not big enough for many of the school's activities.

"The older children could not do PE in there because it was too small. Now if it is raining at lunchtime the children still have the opportunity to run around and it is much better being in a big hall than in classrooms," she said. The children chose the name Cherry Hall.

"It is the newest part of the school building and the cherry tree we have is the newest tree," said Mrs Evans.

The tree was donated as a leaving gift by former administration officer Margaret Tapper. "The tree has started to come into blossom today, Mrs Tapper's birthday. She came to the opening which was lovely," said Mrs Evans.

The children presented a plate to Mr Elkins, designed and painted by them and including the fingerprints of every pupil and teacher.