Excited schoolchildren cheered as their new playground was officially opened.

Paralympian Simon Lawson cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony for the new play area at Netherton Infant School in Maryport.

He said: "I think they've done a great job and it's somewhere nice for the kids to get out and play and enjoy it."

Headteacher Lynn Millingham said the new playground is "an exciting opportunity for the children to get active".

She said: "Because we are a healthy, active school, we wanted the facilities to match.

"The children absolutely love it - they think it's amazing. The first time they came out and saw it they were screaming and shouting - they were so excited.

"Our old playground wasn't very usable in all weathers. We now have better facilities we can access in all weathers, have more space and a designated area for sports."

The school held several fundraising events to help fund the project and pupils and parents put forward their ideas for the new facilities.

Coombe and Sharpe Landscaping carried out the works which involved replacing the soil area with astroturf and erecting a fence.

Director Alan Sharpe said "We do a lot of work in schools and we've enjoyed doing this project."

He added that the company would also be donating play equipment to the school.