Ipswich Town FC star Darren Ambrose opens new £30,000 playground at Thurston Primary School

Pupils at Thurston Primary School had twice as much to celebrate on Wednesday - when their renovated playground was opened by an Ipswich Town footballer.

Darren Ambrose joined children at the school for the opening of their £29,000 play area, complete with football goals and basketball hoops.

The new equipment was funded by Sport England, through a Lottery-funded programme which provides sporting equipment to schools with small play areas.

Headteacher Cathy Lambert said: “It was really good for us to go out and have a cheer with Darren Ambrose.

“It was lovely for the pupils to have all gone out on it together.”

Around eight months ago the school put in a successful funding bid to Sport England to renovate its play area.

“We were so pleased, because the playground was not very big or exciting before,” said Cathy.

The new equipment was erected earlier this month and pupils have already tested it out, but Cathy decided to try and get a special guest to open it officially.

“I wrote a letter to Darren and he agreed to come - I think some of the children were a bit starstruck!” she said.

“We’re grateful to him, he was very lovely and gave a message to the kids, acting as a strong role model.”

Thepurpose -built equipment, featuring goals, targets and a board to practice rebounds against, will be used in further P.E. lessons and for after-school activities.

“It’s not designed for adults to use, but we can offer it out to the children for a variety of things,” Cathy added.