A new pre-school in East Norfolk has been saved after a Council stepped in with a grant to save the threatened project.

An extension to incorporate the new facility into Reedham School had already been planned at a cost of nearly �50,000 when the school lost out in austerity cuts, short of just the last �8,000 needed to equip the space.

However Broadland District Council awarded the school a grant of the same amount to cover the shortfall and make sure the project could go ahead.

Head teacher Debra Harris has praised the move and said the new project was vital to keeping the current school viable.

She said: 'In my time it has been through difficulties in terms of planning permission, suspect tree roots and roosting bats. Each problem was resolved as we came to it but that last blow could have stopped the whole project.'

The building will provide places for 15 children and is now going through a registration process with Norfolk County Council.

'The school is at the heart of the community. We want to make sure children remain in our village and walk to our school which is better for their health and for the environment as well as keeping the village alive,' said Mrs Harris.

The school will continue fundraising to help with initial running costs before the full complement of children makes the pre-school self-funding. The next event is a Christmas Bazaar at the school on December 7 at 2.30pm.

'We have had fantastic support from parents and grandparents and local people,' added Mrs Harris.

Broadland's Leader, Cllr Andrew Proctor, praised the work put in by Mrs Harris and said: 'We're delighted to be able to help a rural community which is pulling together to keep the services it needs for a sustainable future.'