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A Derbyshire construction firm is nearing completion on a £1.4 million project to build extra classrooms at a primary school in the county.

G F Tomlinson, which is based in Little Eaton, near Derby, started work on the construction of three new classrooms at St Oswald’s Primary School, in Ashbourne, back in January.

As well as the classrooms, the firm is also creating outdoor space for sports and other activities.

Since the start of the year, work has been progressing well and this month, before the children broke up for the summer holidays, G F Tomlinson organised a topping out ceremony.

Representatives from the firm and the school attended the event, which saw the pupils make their mark on the new building by drawing self-portraits on a branded board.

The portraits will then be permanently displayed in the new area of the school, alongside their names and the current date, as a way for the youngsters to have a sense of belonging in their new classroom areas.

Craig Stopper, framework manager at G F Tomlinson, said: “Works are going extremely well at St Oswald’s, and after our successful ground-breaking event in January, we wanted to mark the success of the project so far with a ceremony before the start of the summer holidays involving the children that will be using the new classrooms.

“The topping-out ceremony was a great way of making the pupils feel as involved as possible in the construction and the positive growth taking place at their school, and we look forward to opening the doors of the new classrooms.”