ANSTEY Junior School said a big ‘thank you’ to a team from Alton’s M&S after they visited the school and spent time transforming an unused area of the grounds into a vibrant and fun learning space.

The good Samaritan act was the team’s way of marking the M&S neighbourly Make it Matter Volunteer Day.

Having been fortunate enough to receive a grant from M&S towards the work, this was then backed up when the 10 members of staff turned up, sleeves rolled up and tools at the ready, to do the work themselves.

Delighted to support Anstey Junior School, Alton M&S store Manager, James Gamble, said of the initiative: “Volunteering can make a profound difference to the communities in which we live, work and play – we believe that’s lots of the small actions from lots of people, can collectively have a huge impact. I am so proud of what my team achieved to really make a difference.”

Thanking the volunteers for their help with the project, an Anstey Junior School spokesperson said: “The team that came along were fantastic and hard working. They were happy to do whatever was asked of them and did so with a smile and enthusiasm.

“The amount of work completed was impressive and has made such a difference to that area of the school grounds. With the completion of the fire pit we shall look forward to having campfires with different classes, to inviting parents in for Read around the Fire sessions, and to developing links with the wider community.”

• M&S Alton has also handed over £2,000 to Four Marks Scout Group that it raised from the sales of its carrier bags.