YOUNGSTERS at two North Yorkshire schools are happily playing together after a joint fundraising venture provided them with a new play area.

The children attending the Dales School, Morton-on-Swale, and Ainderby Steeple CE Primary School next door already take lessons together.

Now, after months of fundraising by parents and friends of both schools, the pupils have an extensive range of wooden play equipment to use.

Maureen Webster, headteacher at Ainderby Steeple, and Frits Rab, head of the Dales School, joined forces for the project.

The money for the play equipment was raised through raffles, an Easter fair, a family quiz and a hog roast.

Mr Rab said: "Both headteachers were delighted to join together for this project, and the response from the children has demonstrated that they too are delighted.