A WEST Dorset school is appealing for public help to secure funding for an outdoor community hub.

Charmouth Primary School is bidding for money from the Aviva Community Fund in order to kit out an outdoor hub - which officials say will benefit the entire community.

The project will cost around £25,000 and the school hopes to secure online votes to be in with a chance of being granted the funding.

Mrs Gillian Morris, head teacher of Charmouth Primary School, said: "'Charmouth Primary School believe that the outdoors learning environment is just as important as the indoors.

"We are looking to secure funding to fully equip an outdoor hub, offering an enriched learning environment to support the younger generation, including pre-schoolers, for years to come.

"This is also a wonderful opportunity to engage with and provide a rich resource for various community groups."

The new hub would be used by the school pupils, as well as youth groups and community groups.

A description of the project on the funding page reads: "The hub would provide a new dimension to structured learning, whilst also enabling the introduction of new topics and areas of exploration to excite and stimulate children. We aim to inspire future studies and career options including science, technology, engineering, mathematics and creative arts.

"We aim to excel as a school, by offering the very best learning environment to as many beneficiaries as possible. Investing in our hub will help the school deliver positive change throughout the region and beyond.

"We are keen to see the excitement and buzz that this new outdoor hub will generate and find new ways to develop learning opportunities throughout the project."

The school also hopes to install a wood-burning oven in order to offer al fresco dining for children and visitors.

Voting will remain open until Sunday May 31. The 40 projects with the highest number of votes will move on to the finals, where a panel of judges will decide which project receives funding.

To support Charmouth Primary School's bid, please visit community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/Project/View/2941