SCHOOL children thanked bosses of a construction company for providing their new outdoor classroom.

The Leader has previously reported that Golftyn Primary school's new forest school was reopened in January after the first was destroyed by fire last year.

Wates Residential donated the purpose built unit off site and it was delivered earlier this year, bigger than the last and now with desk space for children to complete their work.

Cllr Bernie Attridge said he was contacted by Cllr Nathan Jones to see if he had any contacts through housing at Flintshire Council to see if anyone could help.

He said: "I contacted Mick Cunningham to see if he could donate any wood. We came down for a site visit and we were horrified by what we had seen, there was no way we could salvage anything.

"We were told we would need a purpose built unit made off site and then delivered and due to the cost Mick then had to go through Wates head office and within 48 hours they agreed to purchase a purpose built one which is much appreciated."

Mick Cunningham, framework manager at Wates Residential, was given a handmade card off the school children who wanted to thank him for providing a new outdoor classroom. He added: "We are here to help in the community. We can't do everything but we do what we can."

The Connah's Quay community rallied together to clean the mess caused by the fire, which is believed by fire investigators to have been started deliberately.

Cllr Jones and Cllr Attridge joined Mr Cunningham at the new forest school to see how it would work. They were also shown the new security cameras which were bought with the money from the fundraising page set up by local resident Dave Buxton - totalling £1,461.

Cllr Jones, governor for the school, organised the site visit on Friday and told the Leader: "I would like to express my thanks to Mick from Wates and Dave. It's great to see the forest school back up and running, it's there for the enjoyment of the children of Golftyn and many thanks to all the volunteers who helped during the aftermath of the fire."

Discussions were also made about future improvements which could be made including windows so it can be used in any weather and the planting of daffodils around the outside.

Jeannette Williams, forest school teacher, said: "I'm really grateful to everyone that's put their time and effort in and helped the school. I'm really pleased and the children are over the moon with it."

SDJ Construction workers gave a helping hand in dismantling the wreckage which was then cleared by local volunteers.

Nichola Cooper, headteacher, added: "For me it's the community spirit. It's key. This is my second home and you can't believe it's a place of people pulling together and that's our ethos at the school. I was so touched.

"In the past 20 years of being here we've never really had major problems but we won't let it define us."

Following the blaze on November 1 an appeal for information was launched by North Wales Police.

A spokesman for the force said nobody has been arrested in connection with the incident but anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting W155851.