This summer will see the start of a major re-building project at one borough primary school, where a £500,000 reception block is planned.

Plans for East Sheen Primary School will see two new classrooms for 60 children constructed on the school's Upper Richmond Road site, replacing the outdated rooms currently in use.

Demolition work is due to start at the end of this month and the final project is due for completion in October next year.

Parent governor Ron Percival said: "It is a very tight schedule but we are confident it will be complete in time.

"The block will house the pre-school children and will have two new classrooms, which are going to be larger than they what we currently have.

"We also hope to have a resource area where children can do art work and drawing.

"The current block is one of the oldest buildings at the school - the size is sub-standard for what we need.

"They really are unsuitable for modern education and really draughty; the heating bill is enormous.

"This new building is really needed and we are grateful to the council for helping us to make it happen."

Councillor Malcom Eady, Richmond upon Thames Council's cabinet member for children services and education, said: "The school have got a whole masterplan of upgrading everything across the school and this is the first part of that.

"I visited this school a few months ago and these buildings are really old and in need of repair.

"We have been patching things up and mending them but now we need to completely refurbish it."