STAFF and pupils at a North Yorkshire primary school will be celebrating the end of a two-year project fundraising campaign today.

An extension to the Whorlton Parochial School, Swainby, near Northallerton, is due to be officially opened this afternoon by the new Bishop of Whitby, following a community effort which raised thousands of pounds.

The new block, which has cost more than £30,000, will be opened at a special ceremony by the Right Reverend Robert Ladds.

Headteacher Linda Light said: "The extension is to one of our classrooms for year one and year two pupils, so that we can cater for a specialist curriculum.

"It will include specialist play equipment that the children need before they start their formal education."

She said: "Because we are a voluntary aided school, we had to find 15 per cent of any costs ourselves."

Parents and governors topped up a grant from the Department of Education and Employment by staging a series of fundraising events during the past two years, including a "buy a brick" scheme, a big draw and concert.

Their efforts were supported by the village church, which agreed to contribute £2,500 towards the total cost of the project.

The vice-chairman of the governors, Robin Cook, said: "We are a popular school, not just in Swainby but further afield, and we had a good Ofsted report. A lot of people want their children to come here and there was quite a lot of pressure on the 'tinies' class, so the governors decided that we should apply for funding."

He added: "This extension to one of the three classrooms is costing more than the whole school cost when it was opened in 1968. It's a sign of the times, but the equipment in there is excellent and all state-of-the-art."

At today's opening, children from the school will perform a song written specially for the occasion by music teacher Ian Kirk