College students have created a colourful mural for a primary school's outdoor library.

Lowestoft Journal: Library manager Lesley Gooch.Library manager Lesley Gooch. (Image: (C) Archant 2015)

More than 20 students from Lowestoft College on the level three BTEC extended diploma in art and design helped transform St Margaret's Primary Academy's grounds with artistic creations, which include Elmer the elephant, Gruffalo, hungry caterpillar, humpty dumpty, a height chart, hopscotch, snake alphabet and names of famous authors.

It was then unveiled to staff, children and parents at a special celebratory event that included an afternoon book café and a visit from the Schools Library Service.

Library manager Lesley Gooch said: 'Read, share and enjoy is the ethos of our fabulous expanded library area.

'We had the idea of asking the college students to come and do it. They saw the space, planned it and then painted it spending five days to come up with this fabulous facility.

Lowestoft Journal: St Margaret's Primary Academy's new mural for the school's outdoor library. Youngsters enjoying the new area.St Margaret's Primary Academy's new mural for the school's outdoor library. Youngsters enjoying the new area. (Image: (C) Archant 2015)

'When I started in September there was no library area at all. Within a couple of months we had a super new library that was officially opened by author Peter Murray.'

Numbers of pupils attending the library are growing and children are also involved in the accelerated reader programme.

Mrs Gooch said: 'We wanted to give the children something outside to extend their learning in a new chill-out area in the nicer weather. This area has been transformed and its fabulous. Now the children can come into the library, look at the books and take them outside to read and chill out.'

The extended library area is available at lunchtime, breaktimes and after school.

It is hoped that it could be further expanded in the future if the outside area proves popular.

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