Nursery pupils arrived back from the summer holidays to find a brand new play and learning area had been built.

Poppets Day Nursery in Ongar now boasts decking in its garden after receiving a donation of £2,700 from Bovis Homes.

As well as providing more space to play outdoors, lessons will be led on the wooden clad area on warm days.

Michelle Patman, co-manager at the nursery, said: “The decking has provided the children with a lovely literacy and maths area that they can spend time with the practitioners, extending their learning.”

The money for the decking comes after Bovis Homes built its Livingstone Gardens development where part of the Fyfield Business Park stood.

A new path will also be created which will lead into Ongar.