A PRIMARY school in Newton-le-Willows won a wooden rocket for its playground in a national competition.

Reception children at District Primary, in Patterson Street, celebrated the win by dressing as astronauts, complete with an official opening ceremony with 'Neil Armstrong' and 'Buzz Aldrin' cutting the ribbon.

School staff entered the competition via social media website Twiiter, publishing photographs, drawings and videos of pupils engaging in outdoor play.

Kirsty Hughes, a reception teacher at the school, said: "The challenge was all about using outdoor areas to promote and enhance learning. Anyone could enter - schools, childminders, parents - so we decided to have a go.

"We sent photos nearly every day for 150 days and we were delighted when we heard we had won."

Pupils had been learning about space - so the prize has further fuelled their imaginations, according to Ms Hughes.

She said: "It's already very popular. They can climb inside and it has a multi-coloured perspex top so you can look up and see the sky in all different colours.

"We had two pupils dressed as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin at the grand opening. It was fantastic."

She added: "Throughout the competition we showed pupils the pictures we were sending and, as well as being excited about seeing themselves or their work on photo, it taught them a bit about Twitter and how social media can be used in a positive way."

The competition was set, and the prize provided, by Newby Leisure Limited.