The children of Eastnor Prim-ary have launched a major fundraising arts project to help pay for a £170,000 school extension, due to open this spring.

Work is already underway on building a new classroom, offices and storage, which will also free up existing classroom space.

The old classroom will eventually be developed and turned into a new library and computer suites.

Headteacher John Macmillan said: "Work on the extension is proceeding well. It could be open by March."

Most of the money for the new building will come from Hereford-shire Council as the education authority. But the Parent Teacher Association has been asked to raise £5,000 towards it, and the pupils themselves will be key players in finding it.

A "Sculpture Project" scheme will replace all of the usual Christmas fundraising events at the school.

The pupils will instead be sponsored to recreate an autumn forest landscape, using clay and metalwork, for a unique sculpture for the new extension.

Clare Harvey, the PTA chairman said: "We realised we'd have to sell an awful lot of home made fairy cakes to raise that amount.

"When Jon Williams and Sarah Monk of Eastnor Pottery and Andrew and Hazel Findlay of Eastnor Forge came up with the idea for a forest floor sculpture, and offered to donate their services, we accepted it straight away.

"I expect the children will enjoy getting messy in old clothes and having their work displayed in such a special project."

Now the PTA is seeking donations and sponsorship for parents and well wishers willing to support pupils' creativity and hard work.

The children themselves will be getting ideas from the local woodland system around Eastnor Castle, before visiting Eastnor Pottery and interpreting their finds in clay. Other designs will be turned into metal at Eastnor Forge.

Everything will then be assembled onto a large iron superstructure, which will have pride of place in the new extension.