PUPILS from schools in the area have been putting their artistic talents to good use.

St Peter's School in Chippenham celebrated art week last week by building a city out of paper.

Under the guidance of art adviser Penny Hay, they used pieces of scrap white paper to create homes, schools and offices.

Art sessions have taken place during the afternoons and every one of the 270 plus pupils had some input in the major construction.

The city is so big it has taken up nearly the whole floor space of one of the classrooms, but it will have to be dismantled by Monday when the classroom must be returned to normal.

The school intends to keep some parts of the paper city as a reminder of the efforts made by everyone.

The week also saw the start of a revamp of the cloakrooms. Melksham artist Amanda-Jayne Sears has been working with parent Sarah-Jayne Pike and pupils, to create a brighter atmosphere for everyone.

Meanwhile, youngsters at Sutton Benger Primary used a week of the Queen's jubilee celebrations to designs mosaics to put around the school entrance.

The pupils were overseen by artist Joanna Dewfall, from Salisbury, who went in for three days at the beginning of the month.

With her help, the pupils, using their own designs, made two big mosaics of a tree and a sun, with images evoking school principles around the edges, including a football, and plus and minus signs. Another colourful sign was also made, saying Sutton Benger School, as well as another saying welcome.

"The signs are going to go up above the entrance and around the doors and should make a terrific impression on people visiting the school," said Dawn Beresford, the chairman of The Friends of Sutton Benger School.

During the week, the children also revamped a garden in the school grounds, planting flowers and setting up hanging baskets donated by local firms.

"We had a really good week and a fantastic succession of events," said Mrs Beresford.

During the summer the school's old building is to be replaced, in a £300,000 facelift, with new classrooms, a finance office, a special needs suite, a deputy headmaster's office and a library.

It is the third and final phase in the rebuilding of the school. The school, a voluntary aided primary, is financing ten per cent of the work, with the remainder coming from Government cash.

The two previous phases were completed in 1996 and 1999.