SHIVERING pupils cannot wait for building work on a warm £10,000 corridor to start.

Children from Birdlip Primary School will no longer have to make chilling journeys between classrooms when the 100ft-long walkway opens in the new year.

And it is kind-hearted parents who raised cash to pay for the development who are getting the thanks.

Head teacher Sandra Wride said: "The corridor will be a massive improvement to the school, which is often very chilly in winter. It will mean the children are a lot more comfortable going between rooms.

"And we can be very grateful to the people who have worked so hard to raise the money to make it happen."

Work is due to start on the corridor next month and they are aiming to have the new steel-frame structure open by the beginning of March.

At the moment pupils have to brave the winter weather to get between the different temporary huts on the site.

The corridor will provide space for the 97 children at the school to take part in small group activities.

Books will be moved from the classrooms into the 11ft-wide building, which will be accessed directly from the pre-fabricated rooms.

Birdlip School Association undertook the mammoth fundraising effort, which is still going on, with no money from education bosses. Auctions, clothing schemes, donations through online retailer Amazon and a 100-club draw added to the total.

Association spokesman Mark Houghton, who has two children at the school, said: "We have done a huge amount of fundraising over the past year to 18 months . Given that it's a pretty small school I think we have raised a lot of money.

"Birdlip is a pretty cold place in the winter and the facilities aren't great. It will give the children a lot more space in the winter time where they can go to spend time."

However, Mrs Wride, who has been head teacher for nearly a year, said the school's long-term aim was still to have an entirely new building.

She said: "We really need a new building to improve the school and make it into what we want it to be, but the corridor is a great step."

Developer Banner Homes has contributed £750 to the association to help fund the school fireworks event on November 5, which they hope will raise further money for the extension.

The parents say the firework display will involve £1,500 of fireworks being let off. Tickets are available on the night, priced £10 per family.