Youngsters in Cawston were jumping for joy today after two new classrooms were officially opened at the village primary school.

The ribbon cutting ceremony at Cawston VC Primary School marked the culmination of a long running project to replace two elderly mobile buildings, which had sat in the playground for more than 25 years, with a plush new unit.

Kay Swann, headteacher, spearheaded the classroom project when she joined the school three years ago and helped lead the campaign to raise the �110,000 needed to construct the new, spacious building, which has taken up residence at the far end of the playground and are now home to years two and three.

She said: 'The children love it, they were very excited going in there and they thought they were big, because the old mobiles were very cramped. It's improved their learning, they love their lessons.

'It's a stimulating environment for them and it's going to last a good while for the children of Cawston.'

Building work began at the beginning of the summer when the two ancient classrooms were pulled down and replaced with the 1,500 square foot building, complete with cloakroom and toilets.

Teachers and staff were then drafted in over the last week of the holidays to kit the classrooms out with furniture and add the finishing touches, so they were ready to welcome students at the start of the new term.

'It was an anxious holiday, thinking 'is it all going to be ready?' but everything was done by the end of August,' Mrs Swann added.

Pupils were joined by chair of governors Melanie White and Reverend Tom Harris, representing the diocese, at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Rev Harris blessed the new classrooms and joined the children and staff in reciting the school's prayer, which was written to commemorate the opening of its main building in 1953.