AN £850,000 new first school in Dulverton is due to open its doors to pupils next month, marking the end of a 20-year wait to replace one built by the Victorians.

The new building has been named All Saints Church of England School and will have an emblem designed by its children.

An official opening ceremony is being organised by headmaster Charles Pope and chairman of governors John Organ and is likely to be held in May.

They plan to present each of the 125 pupils with a commemorative gift set containing a pen, purse, mug and tea towel, all carrying the school's new name and emblem.

A sponsorship appeal was launched before Christmas and town councillors will next week consider making a contribution to the £1,150 cost.

Mr Pope said any money left over would be put towards new playground equipment.

He said: "The name of every sponsor will be printed on a card to be included in the packs and acknowledged in the publicity for the opening.

"It would be wonderful if we could make this happen for the children as a memory of their new school."

Mr Pope said the opening ceremony would involve the children, their parents and the wider community.

Work began last January on the four-classroom school on a greenfield site in Bodmins Mead, beside the town's middle school.

It will replace a property built in the 1800s and which for the past two decades was recognised to be so dilapidated it could not reasonably be improved.

Work was scheduled to be finished in time for pupils to move in after the last October half-term holiday.

However, Taunton-based contractors NG Stodgell suffered financial problems before a rescue package was successful and there were then delays with sub-contractors.

A new completion date of January 20 was agreed, with the transfer from the old school taking place during half-term at the end of February.