A new Early Years Unit has been officially opened at the oldest school in Wickford.

A ribbon was cut and children at Wickford C of E Primary School in Southend Road were given a talk about the history of the building which houses the new department.

At the end of the last century the school was gutted by fire and teachers had to evacuate the children.

It was caused by an oily rag thrown into an open fire in one of the classrooms which caused flames to roar up, catching the then thatched roof.

Its roof was replaced with a tiled one in the early 1900s.

The new Early Years unit, which has been running since October, has enabled the school to take in 22 pre-school pupils aged four and a half.

Headteacher, Sue Patmore, said: "It's a very exciting venture for us because we are a small school."

Picture, top: Back to basics - headsteacher Sue Patmore gets some unexpected help in announcing the opening of the new unit from four-year-old Alisha Hubert

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