A NEW archway has taken pride of place at an Ealing school thanks to the contributions of parents, students and artist workshops.

Children and staff at Springhallow School, in Compton Close, West Ealing, spent more than a year working on the metal archway as part of the Springhallow Art and Craft Project.

Visiting artist Tim Tolkien, who is a relative of Lord of The Rings author J.R.R Tolkien, helped the children, who all have communication difficulties, with the designs and ideas for the archway during special workshops.

He used the theme of spring as the main design and then converted the designs into metal birds, bugs and flowers within the structure.

Heather Gordeon, project co-ordinator, said: "Everybody learnt new skills and the project involved the whole school community. The resulting archway makes a beautiful and unusual entrance to the school."

The archway was partly funded by the National Lottery and the Springhallow Art and Craft Project.