SCHOOLCHILDREN have been celebrating the installation of a fish pond at their school, which has arrived after they won a competition.

Paddock Farm Nursery and Water Gardens, near Darlington, has finished installing the pond at Preston Primary School, in Stockton.

It has come complete with water feature, aquatic plants and - the life and soul of the project - the fish.

Preston Primary School won the £5,000 award after the children entered Paddock Farm's pond competition earlier this year.

Competing schools were required to submit a three to five-minute-long video presentation.

The film had to explain why they wanted a pond, what they wanted it to include if they won, and how pupils at the school would be able to benefit from it.

There were five finalists each from County Durham and North Yorkshire.

The overall winner from each area was then announced at a local ceremony which was held for parents and school representatives.

Faye Blair, teacher at the victorious Preston Primary School, said: "We are all very grateful for all the work and effort that Paddock Farm has put into our pond."

She added: "It adds a very unique feature to our school and will be a fantastic resource for the children to use."

"It will allow the school to kick off its brand new ECO garden project and the children to learn through real experience by providing an opportunity to learn outside the classroom.

"The pond will also hugely develop their science learning as it will be used for many investigations and scientific observations."

Pupil Anna Hamilton said: "The pond is amazing. We have given it more plants and a fence so we can walk up to it, and we would like some frogs and tadpoles in it, too."