Pupils made their mark at Elstow Lower School by revamping their playground.

Coun Lynn Faulkner, pictured with pupils, was at the school last month to hand over £1,250 from Bedfordshire County Council's community leadership fund, which will go towards the cost of the scheme.

That sum was added to £2,400 that students raised last year from a sponsored walk.

And the pupils played a key role in designing the project, as the school council created a questionnaire which youngsters completed to decide what should go in the new playground and what it should look like.

Headteacher Jenny Winder said: "The pupils are really proud of the playground. They helped create it so they really take care of it. It is a mix of play and learning facilities. There are snakes and ladders and
hop-scotch markings which can help with numeracy, a basketball shooter to help with coordination, and a netball court for health and fitness. We are also going to install shade sails so that pupils can learn outside in the summer when it is hot too."