CHILDREN at an East Dorset school came up with a novel idea for raising much-needed funds for their library.

The youngsters at Colehill First School in Wimborne have launched a fundraising appeal to give their library a new look.

And their money making venture got underway with a real page-turner – a three day read-a-thon, culminating on World Book Day.

The school is aiming to raise around £1,600 to give the library a more colourful makeover and to kit it out with more children-friendly shelving.

Headteacher Andrew Turrall said: “World Book Day seemed the perfect opportunity to kick start our fundraising appeal that will enable us to greatly improve our library.

“Our school was built 12 years ago but the library has remained largely unaltered.

“We want to make it a much more colourful and fun environment that’s designed with our children in mind.”

Money raised will provide more child-friendly book shelving and storage units.

It will also be used to create new woodland themed décor and furniture based on a design devised by head of English, Ruth Everton, and the children themselves.

Children will sit on log-shaped cushioned seats and the walls will be painted to resemble a forest setting.

The library plans also include a new reading chair in memory of long-serving chair of governors Gordon Richards, who served the school from 1978 until he died in 2014.

For more information and or to donate to the appeal, visit colehillfirst.dorset.sch.uk

Colehill First School is one of seven first and middle schools in the Wimborne Academy Trust, along with Hayeswood First School, Allenbourn Middle School, St John's CE First School, Merley First School, St Michael's CE Middle School and Witchampton CE First School.