A VILLAGE school is to get a new extension despite fears it would be too big and out of character with the existing listed building.

Planning officers at West Wiltshire District Council recommended Chapmanslade School's application be refused but councillors voted in favour of the new facilities.

The school asked to build a new block behind the current school building for a hall for PE and a place for the 80 pupils at the school to congregate, but planners said the building was too high, too big and did not fit in with the listed building of the main school.

Headteacher Jocelyn Jewell said: "We are a very successful school but we do not have enough facilities to teach the full PE curriculum.

"With the Government push for healthy children that do enough exercise we should really support this plan, and it is crucial for the continuity of this village school."

Chapmanslade School has been at the heart of village life since the 1860s and currently consists of one main listed building and two extra mobile classrooms.

Mrs Jewell said: "We are no longer a Victorian school, and we need facilities to make it work for the 21st century."

At a meeting of the southern area committee on Thursday, councillors voted in favour of the plans. Councillors said they wanted assurances that the materials used in the new building would fit in with the surrounding buildings.