Staff, students and governors at a south Norfolk primary school have launched a fundraising appeal to complete an expansion project.

Work began at Morley Church of England Primary School, near Wymondham, in September to create a new school hall on the site's former staff car park.

The new building will replace the voluntary controlled school's cramped hall, which is too small for meal times, assemblies and functions.

Officials at the school in Deopham Road, Morley St Botolph, have now begun fundraising to pay off the final �65,000 of the project, which is set to be completed in March.

The school has been pledged �600,000 from the diocese, but needs to find about 10pc of the cost themselves, which will pave the way for phase two of the build that will see the construction of permanent new classrooms to replace 'dilapidated' mobile structures.

The school came out of special measures two years ago and wants to upgrade its facilities to continue improving.

Lisa Blowfield, headteacher at Morley Primary, said the completion of the school hall will make a big difference to pupils, teachers and parents and will enable them to get the local community more involved.

'We currently have a very small school hall, which is L-shaped and just about fits all the children, but we have huge problems seating them at lunchtime, there is not enough room for P.E lessons, and we can not fit all the parents in during school productions.'

'The new hall will accommodate 210 children and we have 120. It will make a huge difference and it will make it more of a community and a welcoming place to meet,' she said.

Mrs Blowfield added that the pupils were taking a keen interest in the construction project and were taking photos and getting a weekly tour of the site.

The primary school will be holding an auction of promises event at Morley Village Hall from 7.30pm on November 26 to raise funds for the project. More than 50 lots will be on sale, including an arrow used by Russell Crowe in the Robin Hood film, donated by local archery master Steve Ralphs.

People can make donations by contacting the school office on 01953 602397.