PRIMARY schoolchildren are thrilled to pieces with a giant mosaic that will brighten up their playground.

More than 2,000 tiles have been produced in Wheatlands Primary School's kiln to fit into a 68sq m millennium mosaic, drawn by artist in residence John Todd.

Each of the 420 children at the Redcar school - including the nursery- have made at least one tile, as have parents, governors, and even the school's kitchen staff.

Images of life in Redcar, with fishing boats, the seashore, ice- cream and candy floss, as well as seagulls, the old pier and even beach huts, have been created during the past 12 months and carefully stored in the school's stock cupboard.

Local businesses helped fund the £3,000 project, along with the Friends of the school and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

The council's director of education, Patrick Scott, visited the school last week for a ceremonial cutting of the 2,000th tile.

Headteacher Eileen Wilkinson said: "It has been an absolutely brilliant project, involving everyone in the school and covering all areas of the curriculum, too."

Freelance artist Mr Todd, who retired as head of art at Darlington's Haughton School, three years ago, said: "It is the biggest project of my life and I'm 53.

"I've been delighted with the enthusiasm of everyone involved. By the finish, we expect to have a total of 2,700 tiles, and we want to lay them in a specially-prepared area of the playground before next Easter."