A WEST Dorset housing company has given a helping hand to two schools.

Staff at Magna Housing gave up their normal working day to take part in the community project.

The team of tradesmen installed external floodlights to a school’s playground, redecorated a block of toilets and a kitchen.

Misterton First School and Misterton, Ashlands First School, Crewkerne were given the DIY improvements, thanks to an employee volunteering project run by the local affordable housing provider.

Tradesmen from Magna Housing gave up their normal working day to get involved in the community project.

Phil Allen, Magna surveyor, said: “These schools play an important role serving the community but have limited funds to maintain expensive old buildings.

“We wanted to give something back to the community and one of our tradesmen Ian runs football training in the evenings at Misterton School, so was fully aware of how grateful the school and children would be.

“This was a great team building exercise which gave us a chance to reminisce about our school days and the team can look back on this community project with great pride.”

The Magna team fitted external floodlights to Misterton school’s playground, redecorated a block of toilets and stained the external playhouse.

Ashlands School had its kitchen redecorated and taps replaced in the toilets.