THE Countess of Wessex officially opened Sandford St Martin's Primary School yesterday as part of a whistle-stop tour of Dorset.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, herself a mother-of-two, chatted with primary school youngsters as she toured the new building before addressing a school assembly and unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion.

She later visited Heatherlands community centre in Ferndown and Shaftesbury's Trinity centre.

Speaking at Sandford St Martin's, the countess said: "Thank you very very much for having me here today and sharing this wonderful new school with me.

"Some of you newer pupils may not realise what a fabulous school you have here. I hope you get the best out of it, enjoy it and that you will look after it as well.

"To all the teachers, I bet it feels like all your Christmas' have come at once to have these fantastic facilities. To everyone who has made it happen, my many thanks to you on behalf of the children and their families. You are giving them a great start in life."

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, flew in and out of the Sandford Road campus by helicopter, which the children and school staff got the chance to look around after it landed on the school field.

Dozens of parents also watched the visit unfold from behind a cordon.

Sandford St Martin's Primary School, which first opened to pupils in October 2014, has been built on the site of the former middle school.

Purbeck's four middle schools closed as part of the Purbeck Review, a shake-up that reorganised the district from a three to a two-tier education system.

The campus has been completely rebuilt with state-of-the-art facilities and even an adjoining worship centre.

Head teacher Jeremy Payne said: "It is just a fantastic occasion and a chance for the whole community to come together and celebrate what has been achieved in everybody's name for the education of children in Sandford."

Meanwhile, school governor Mary Appleton said: "The future looks full of hope with a well-designed, fit for purpose primary school that is growing in reputation and popularity day-by-day."

Currently the school has 350 pupils.