Howzat! Cricket star Paul Prichard performed ribbon-cutting duties to officially open a £1 million primary school extension.

Six extra classrooms, a small hall and an IT room have been added to Wentworth County Primary School, Viking Road, Maldon.

Numbers at the school, which previously had eight classrooms, have be boosted to 392. The new building has been named The Millennium Building.

Essex batsman Prichard also planted a sapling.

Roy Pipe, chairman of the district council, unveiled a plaque and every child rounded off the event by releasing a balloon.

Celebrating - headteacher Helenmary Taylor, with Paul Prichard, Roy Pipe and happy children.

Picture: STEVE ARGENT

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.