A JUNIOR 'Ground Force' team has transformed a plain area of their schoolyard into a colourful play area.

The four and five-year-olds at Browney Primary School, Browney, designed and created the haven on a shoestring. They painted a farmyard mural on a wall and equipped the area with secondhand play equipment advertised in The Durham Advertiser.

Forty-four youngsters took part in the project, which was overseen by teacher Catherine Worton. She said: "We had a cake stall that raised £85 for the project and the children helped to paint the mural and design the yard.

"We bought play equipment, including a seesaw, slide, trampoline and Wendy House, that was advertised in The Advertiser. We found everything we needed secondhand.

"The most we paid was £35 for a beautiful seesaw. The only thing we bought new was a tin of paint. Everything else was secondhand or donated. Durham Decorators gave some masonry paint for the mural."

Miss Worton added: "We did it on a shoestring and there were lots of learning experiences for the children.

"They had to plan the space, consider safety and look at getting funding. It was a very worthwhile experience. I hope they are proud of the yard because they made it."