Primary school pupils can now bring their stories to life in a special outdoor area thanks to the efforts of a friends group.

Last year Carlton Colville Primary School became the first school in Suffolk to receive accreditation from the Storytelling Schools Company, an initiative aimed at making all pupils storytellers, developing skills and confidence in speaking and performing.

And as pupils continue to learn a range of fiction and non fiction stories by heart, the school's friends group decided to raise funds to install a special storytelling circle outside in the playground.

The circle includes wooden benches engraved with story titles such as The Three Little Pigs and The Little Red Hen, as well as a large wooden throne.

And despite it being a bit too cold for pupils to enjoy their new facility, school storytelling lead Beth Lewis said they can't wait to give it a try.

She said: 'Because stories are traditionally told outside in the open air we thought it would be nice to reflect that here and we've already got a really strong outside learning environment, so it is the next stage of improvements to that.

'It's been a bit too cold and rainy to use at the moment so we are waiting for some nice sunny afternoons to get stuck in.

'The pupils' progress as storytellers improves day by day so as they move through the school the amount of stories they know will increase.'

The school adopted the storytelling approach in September 2016 and received formal accreditation at the end of last year.

The scheme provides a whole-school approach to literacy teaching and learning, and pupils learn stories by listening to a performance from their teacher, before mapping it out as a class pictorially, stepping it out and then having a go at speaking it.

A storytelling club has now also be launched and youngsters have performed their stories during school assemblies.

Sarah Aggreh and Jess Gorst-Allman, who are both teachers at the school as well as members of the friends group, said: 'Through different fundraising events we were pleased to purchase the beautiful storytelling circle for the school. We know the children and staff will love using it during the storytelling sessions.'