A TIPTREE primary school has secured the use of a double-decker bus that will be transformed into a classroom for their pupils.

Milldene Tiptree Primary School, in Barbrook Lane, is housing a double decker bus on its playground which it hopes to renovate over the coming months.

The bus, purchased from Lodge Coaches, will have tables and chairs installed in it, in an attempt to solve space problems at the school.

Jo Munson, from the school, said: “We are a very small school with very few meeting facilities so we are always on the lookout for extra spaces.

“We looked into a lot of ideas and saw another school had done this before, so when we heard Lodge might be getting rid of a bus we jumped at the chance.

“The children absolutely love it.

“They can’t wait for it to be finished.

“They keep asking when they will be able to go on the bus, and to be honest I think some of the adults may be even worse.”

Lodge Coaches were using the bus to ferry workers to and from Wilkin & Sons in Tiptree and no longer had any use for the bus.

“We heard they were getting rid of the bus and got in touch with them,” added Mrs Munson.

“They were going to be selling it because they did not need it anymore.

“We contacted them and did a bit of sweet talking and managed to get it for a reasonable amount of money so that we could store it on the playground and use it as an extra meeting space.

“We had a special arrival day for the bus in July, before the children broke up for the summer holidays.

“Robert Lodge, from Lodge Coaches, drove it into the school for us, and it was a really nice way to let people know what we were planning to try and improve the school.”

The school hope that the transformation of the old double-decker bus will be completed in the next few months.