OFFICE workers got their hands dirty when they helped give a primary school a facelift.

Nineteen Barclaycard employees spent the day at Riverdale Primary School, in Redcar, as part of the company's Volunteer 2day scheme, which gives each employee two days of business time a year to work with local charities.

The employees split into teams and built a wooden playhouse, which was painted in a three bears theme, created a music storytelling area and painted a mural on one of the main walls.

They also worked in the school gardens, creating shrub beds.

Headteacher Pam Shawcross was delighted with the result.

She said: "The children are really excited and can't wait to use the areas that have been decorated. We're so appreciative of what the teams did.

"They were really well organised and very aware that they were in a school with lots of little children.

"The parents are already commenting on how nice the shrub beds look."

Michelle Smith, community affairs senior manager at Barclaycard, said: "Barclaycard is committed to communities and is delighted to support Riverdale Primary School. This is a great example of Barclaycard staff working closely with the local community to achieve something which we hope will make a real and lasting difference."