CHILDREN and staff at a Halesowen primary school are celebrating after The Big Lottery Fund announced it will bankroll new playground equipment.

The Awards for All programme announced Tenterfields Primary School will receive a £10,000 grant towards play equipment

which can be used all year round.

Alison Rowe, Big Lottery Fund spokesperson, confirmed the cash will be donated to the Halesowen school.

She said: “It’s great to see the variety of innovative ways projects plan to use their Awards for All grants this month.

"The group will use the funding to instal a piece of multi use play equipment in an existing play area, this will improve the group's facilities by providing a play facility that is available for use all year round."

She added: "Offering funding of between £300 and £10,000, our Awards for All programme is accessible to a wide range of groups who all have a desire to make a positive difference in their communities.”

Successful Big Lottery applications have to develop skills, improve health, revitalise the local environment and enable people to become healthier, more active citizens.

Voluntary and community groups, schools, health bodies, parish and town councils can all apply for the cash.

The school is wasting no time in improving the playground on its Tenterfields campus.

Headteacher Keith Butler said: "We are very pleased to announce that at the end of January, a new play area is to be constructed by the outside classroom."

The Big Lottery Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and gives grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK.