PARENTS, teachers and children have rallied round a school’s bid to raise £5,500 before Easter to build an extended playground.

Eastfield Infant and Nursery School, in St Ives, has long had a bigger play area for its pupils on its wish list.

The Eastfield School Association has already raised £12,000 towards the £17,500 project over the past couple of years, which has been collected through its usual fundraisers such as a Christmas disco and summer fayre.

However Zoe Weaver, chairman of the association, said: “At this time of year, kids still want to spend a lot of time outside and the playground area just isn’t big enough.

“We thought that we just needed to get on and do this so we decided to have a massive fundraising drive.

“We just want to get on with this and we want the kids to get the most out of it.”

As well as its usual events, the association will organise a charity car wash on Saturday (February 23) at the school in Pig Lane between 10am and 3pm.

A non-uniform day will also be held towards the end of term and the Co-Operative has said Eastfield volunteers can organise a charity bag packing day at one of its stores.

“There is an awful lot of traffic at playtimes and the kids are constantly crashing into each other. It’s not safe and is a constant worry for the teachers,” said Mrs Weaver, who has a son at Eastfield and a daughter at nearby Westfield Junior School.

“The children are really excited about it. Playtime is a hugely important part of the day - that’s when they have the freedom to play their own games and form their own friendship groups.

“I feel there is a really big need for this and that it will change the kids’ day.”