THE new £1.7 million extension at Shaldon Primary School is also being used by the community.

The first organisation to take advantage of the facility was the Shaldon Festival, which staged a production there, and the WI is now using the hall regularly.

Other groups are also interested in using the premises for various events.

John Rawson, chairman of the governors, admitted the modern design might not be to everybody's liking.

'But to have built in old stone would have been too costly,' he said.

'We intend to replace the few trees that were lost in the construction, and will probably end up with even more trees than before.'

He added: 'During an open day, more than 300 villagers had guided tours of the new building accompanied by the children and everybody said what a wonderful addition to the village it is.'

The scheme has provided the school with a new hall, two replacement classrooms, a group room and new offices. The new two-storey building has underfloor heating and will generate its own electricity through photovoltaic cells on the flat roof.

A sustainable drainage system has also been installed.

Headteacher Frances Moule said: 'The children absolutely love it. It is quieter and more spacious and, for the first time in 25 years, we are able to put on a whole-school production in our new hall.

'Indeed, the building has more space than we envisaged when we first saw it on the plans.'

County Cllr Chris Clarance said he worked hard to secure the funding 'and I see this as one of the highlights of my two years as a county councillor for the Teign estuary'.

The development was opened by the chairman of the county council, County Cllr Jeremy Yabsley.