TWO years of fundraising have paid off for children who can enjoy a £14,000 play area at their school.

Pupils, staff and parents at St Wilfrid's Primary School, on the Woodhouse Close Estate, Bishop Auckland, raised the money to turn a barren playground into a fun place for nursery and reception pupils.

The yard has a soft play surface and security fence to make it safer for children, climbing frames, an adventure trail and a small garden.

Donations from the Parent Teachers Association, Early Years, SureStart, the James Knox fund and a £5,000 grant from Awards for All helped the school reach its target and carry out the work.

The school's youngest pupils joined in a fun day to celebrate the project's completion.

Nursery teacher Yvonne Burton said: "It will be great for their social and physical skills, will help them to enjoy being at school and improve other lessons such as science as we can go out into the garden and learn new things."

She said the school planned to create a wildlife garden and cover all the yard with a soft surface.