Parents and residents welcomed a chance to have their say on proposals to spend £500,000 improving a school in Upper Stratton.

At an informal exhibition more than 30 visitors viewed plans to build a new resource area and classrooms at Ruskin Junior School.

The proposals involve building three permanent classrooms to replace mobile accommodation and creating a new library with space stores for equipment.

Simon Morris of the council's Technical Service Group attended Monday afternoon's viewing to answer questions from the public.

He said: "Everybody supported the proposals, there wasn't any objections.

"Some residents were worried about the extension obstructing their views but it is a very compact project."

Mr Morris said others had expressed concerns over traffic, but he explained the plans will not increase the size of the school.

If the work gets the go-ahead building will start by June 2001.

It should be completed by March 2002.

The plans went on show to the public after the council said it wanted to know what people thought before a detailed planning application is submitted.

Mr Morris said: "People were just glad that the children are to be moved out if the worst of the mobile accommodation and into permanent buildings."