Ref. 25737-17CHILDREN at an Old Town primary school now have their own play area despite an unsuccessful lottery bid for the project earlier this year.

The early years classes at Lethbridge Primary School have a specially designed play area thanks to £5,000 funding from Swindon Council's education authority and £5,000 from the Parents and Teachers' Association.

Lethbridge Infant School and Lethbridge Junior merged in 2000 and a new building was built to link them.

The school had applied for a grant from the Awards for All scheme to improve the outdoor areas but failed to win the bid.

But now the younger children have specially designed play equipment such as a wooden boat, an outdoor blackboard, toy bikes as well as a story- telling area and plants.

Harley Bunce, five, said: "I like the blackboard on the wall. We get to do some drawings on there."

Early years teacher Margaret Bradbury, said: "We are supposed to provide an outdoor play area for children and we have just started using it in June.

"There is so much out there we didn't have before and they used to just run around. Now they can't wait to get out there."

Headteacher Ray Norman said: "I am pleased it has been completed. It gives the children opportunity for outdoor structured play."