TEACHERS at a Galashiels primary school has hailed the parent power which has led to a torched outdoor classroom being rebuilt.

Pupils, teachers and parents at Langlee Primary were devastated last November when they discovered a woodland hut and surrounding fence had been set alight by vandals.

The woodland area adjoining the school was popular with children from pre-school age all the way up to primary seven for outdoor activities.

Due to the damage, the whole area had to be cordoned off by staff.

And police were brought in to investigate the crime.

During December mum Nicola Kelly dipped into her own pocket to buy timber and as she recruited fellow parent Chris Brown to help to raise the outdoor classroom from the ashes.

And earlier this month the new hut was officially opened.

Langlee teacher Keith Guthrie told us: "The space is a valuable learning resource for the pupils who were very upset when they discovered what had happened and could not access it.

"Chris did a wonderful job in cold weather and spoke to very inquisitive children about what he was doing.

"We as a school would like to thank Nicola for organising and paying for all of this and it came as a complete surprise when we found out it was going ahead.

"We are proud to have such positive people as part of our school community and are delighted they thought of us when it came to this act of kindness and generosity."

As well as purchasing most of the materials for the new hut, mum Nicola recruited local joiner Chris to carry out the building work.

Mr Brown, who has children at Langlee Primary, volunteered his services and for two days removed the damaged sections before building the new outdoor classroom.

Chris told us: "I love working with wood and it has been a pleasure to work on the hut.

"I enjoyed speaking to the kids and letting them know about how to fix things and how to be safe when using the different tools."

Local firm Jewsons donated products to treat the finished wood.

Mum Nicola is delighted with the new outdoor classroom.

She said: "All of my children have used this space from nursery age and have loved using this space to explore the woodland area.

"It’s a great benefit to the whole school and I just wanted to do something nice."