Students and staff at a south Norfolk primary school were so proud of their new facilities that they could not wait for an official opening ceremony.

Parents, former pupils, ex-governors, and villagers were given a tour of the refurbished and extended Hempnall Primary School yesterday to mark the completion of a �2.2m project.

Building work began last August and was finished at the 83-pupil school last month, which has seen the renovation of its 19th century Victorian building and creation of four new classrooms, large hall and kitchen.

Miriam Elston, headteacher of Hempnall Primary School, said they were so keen to show off the new look school that they have been holding a 'pre-official opening' community week where members of the public have been invited to have a sneak peak.

'It is absolutely amazing. It is a fantastic facility for the children in the school because we were in two cramped mobile classrooms and a cramped school. The new facilities makes the whole learning business so much easier and we can now cook our meals on site.'

'The children were so excited and absolutely love it,' she said.

The school extension scheme was one of the last to be funded by Norfolk County Council's Norfolk Schools Project, which has seen a �96m investment in 36 schools across the county over the last five years.