YOUNGSTERS at a Bridport school will be able to learn more about wildlife after receiving funding from a housing association.

St Mary's Primary School has been awarded a £3,000 grant from Magna Housing Association's community initiative fund.

The money will be spent on improving a pond, supporting the school's edible garden - along with providing education on internet safety.

Head teacher at St Mary's Primary School, Helen Farmer, said: "The majority of the money will be spent renovating the existing pond area so children can use it for pod-dipping and to learn about wildlife. It will also support our edible garden.

"Each year, before the children in year six move to secondary school, they are given a project to work together on that they can leave behind for the rest of the children. This year, thanks to the funding, their project will be redesigning the pond.

"We'll also be using part of the funding to educate our children about the importance of internet safety and provide other vital training. We're very grateful for all the money Magna donated so we can start these new initiatives."

Magna's community initiative fund allocates money to schemes that will impact their residents - along with charities and organisations which provide services of benefit to residents.

Applications for funding are reviewed and agreed by a residents' forum.

Jez Morris, head of housing at Magna, said: "We have a lot of homes in the catchment area for St Mary's Primary School.

"We are keen to support the communities we are based in and the forum of residents agreed that this project would benefit many of our residents' children.

"Magna is glad to be able to provide funding to support a local school. It's important that schools receive the support they need to be able to continue the great work they do."