A NEW primary school that opened this autumn has received a £1,000 boost from the developers who built it.

The windfall will help buy new play equipment at West Monkton Primary School, built as part of the Heathfield Gardens development in Monkton Heathfield.

The 14-classroom campus school, which has space for 420 pupils and a 52-child nursery, replaced the former ten-class West Monkton Primary School next to Heathfield Community School at the end of October.

School business manager Zoe Farnham said: "We are thrilled to receive this generous donation from Persimmon Homes.

"We have a fantastic new school building but we are raising further funds to create a play environment for the children to learn, thrive and grow.

"This money will help to provide lunchtime equipment, materials and activities for the children to engage with, helping them to stay active and encourage those who are more solitary to participate with others."

Nina Hester, sales and marketing director at Persimmon Homes South West, said: "Working alongside another builder, we are delighted to have created a modern new school for the children living in the area.

"This additional funding will help the school to add the finishing touches."