Youngsters at a York primary school are finding out that the grass is definitely greener on the other side of the fence.

It's taken £15,000 and years of campaigning, but the prayers of parents and pupils at Scarcroft Primary School have been answered and they have finally got a patch of green grass for their kids to play on.

Up to this point, the school has not had a green playing area, despite the school building being surrounded by the open grassed area at Scarcroft Green.

Members of the local community and school governors campaigned for five years to get a dog-free area on Scarcroft Green that could then be used safely by the school during school hours and the wider community the rest of the time.

Governor Fiona Chapman said: "Scarcroft School has suffered from its lack of green playing space, which always seemed particularly depressing given its position right next to a huge area of grass.

"Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved as well as the support of local councillors, we have finally got this area and the school and local children are making good use of it."

The area has been fenced off next to the playground on the green to allow children to play out during school hours and for community use out of hours.

It is around the size of a junior football pitch to allow games to take place including football and rugby and has been fenced off and gated to keep out dogs.

Head teacher Anna Cornhill said dog fouling was the main reason why youngsters from the school couldn't use the rest of the green to play on and the new play area should mean children had a clean and safe place to play.

She said: "We have waited a long time to get this land and it has been a number one priority of our parents since before I came to the school seven years ago.

"We are thrilled it has become a reality and so are the children who have been using it already during the school day as well as with their families after hours."

The schools PTA - the Friends of Scarcroft School - raised £4,000 towards the area with £6,000 coming from the local ward committee, £3,500 from a local developer, and £1,500 from the council.

The school has also spent money buying giant games including snakes and ladders as a reward for the younger children who use the area.

The Grand Opening is on Tuesday (1st May) at 9am and will be attended by a representative of York City's Football In The Community group.