CHILDREN at a junior school in the Meon Valley are falling in line with the ancient Romans for a millennium project.

They are hoping to raise £27,000 to construct an outdoor classroom in the shape of an amphitheatre.

It is hoped to construct it from old railway sleepers to provide an educational and recreational area for use by pupils at Ridgemede Junior School, Bishop's Waltham.

"The idea was the children's and we hope to have a design which will have tiered seating and be open to the sky, surrounded by specially-planted trees," said head teacher David Porter. The 310-pupil school hopes to obtain funding from the National Lottery, local councils and educational bodies and is busy thinking up its own fund-raising project.

The school also intends to make the amphitheatre available for community use.

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