CHILDREN, staff and governors celebrated the refurbishment of Caldecott Primary School.

Hundreds of people gathered for the official opening of the school, in Caldecott Road, Abingdon, on Friday.

The £2m project, which began in 2001, has seen the school — which has 360 pupils aged between three and 11 — go through changes including the creation of a single primary school from an infant and junior school and the construction of eight classrooms and a library.

To mark the end of the work, pupils stood on the playground with a ribbon wrapped around them.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Dr Evan Harris was invited to cut the ribbon. He is pictured with pupils and headteacher Margaret Wolf, who cut a ceremonial cake.

Patricia Hobby, the newly-appointed Mayor of Abingdon, Oxfordshire county councillor Catherine Fulljames and other civic dignitaries joined the ceremony. Pupils also released 300 balloons and buried a time capsule.

Ms Wolf said: “We’ve been working hard over the last eight years to transform our school.

“We wanted the chance to celebrate all our achievements together.”

Funding for the project was provided by Oxfordshire County Council.