CHILDREN at a Shirehampton primary school have a new playground.

The area, complete with climbing wall and colourful playground markings, cost £4,000.

The celebration to officially open the area at St Bernards RC Primary School on Station Road marked the completion of a project funded by RBS Supergrounds.

This £6 million, six-year community investment initiative was launched by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group in September 2004 to improve school grounds.

The programme is managed by the national school grounds charity Learning Through Landscapes, in partnership with environmental charity Groundwork, to make a lasting difference to children's learning environments.

Supergrounds was developed by RBS to strengthen the ties between bank staff and their communities, with staff nominating schools that they are involved with for funding.

St Bernards RC Primary School became involved through parent and Friends of St Bernards member Kerry McNamee, who works at RBS's Aztec West site.

Adrian Willson, head teacher at St Bernards, said: "These improvements funded by RBS Supergrounds will allow the children to learn while they play.

"We are extremely grateful to Kerry McNamee from RBS for the support and commitment she has shown to the school from the start to finish of this project."