Anything Rowan Atkinson can do, the children of St Ebbe's School can do better.

They have planted a Millennium dome to rival the construction Mr Atkinson is building at his home in Waterperry for his New Year's Eve party.

Only the youngsters' dome on the school grounds in Whitehouse Road, south Oxford, is living and growing - it is made up of willow and poplar saplings.

The St Ebbe's dome is about six feet at its highest point and has an entrance tunnel similar to an igloo. Headteacher Sue Matthew said the children decided they wanted to build a copy to mark the year 2000 and have planted the structure so it can mature and grow over the years for other children to enjoy.

Mrs Matthew said: "It will be terrific in the spring when it is in flower.

"It is big enough to sit inside and we eventually want to put seats in so it can be used for teaching and play. We are all very proud of it. It is good for the children to see it growing and look after it.

"It is part of a long term plan to improve the environment of the school."

Mrs Matthew said it only took a team of parents and children two weekend sessions to plant all the trees and weave them into the dome shape. The plants will be held in place with tape until the saplings are strong enough to hold the shape.

*Andrew Smith, First Secretary to the Treasury and Oxford East MP, opened a classroom at the school yesterday.

Story date: Saturday 11 December

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.