PLAYTIME in Covingham will be even more carefree from now on.

Children, from Covingham Park Junior School, have received two new environmentally-friendly playhouses thanks to two local companies.

Employees from Nationwide and CRE Colliers built the beehive-shaped eco-playhouses in just eight hours.

The 36-strong team used only sustainable materials, like soil, with no brick, wood or metal in sight.

Headteacher Jon Swaffield said: "It was very special to have so many other people in school for the day and the children benefited in so many ways - not least in raising awareness of environmental and global citizenship issues.

"It was a fantastic day for all concerned. Staff and children were really enthused by the event and are still talking about it."

He said the youngsters are now working on the finishing touches of painting images on the playhouse.

"The children have nearly finished the process of deciding on a design," Mr Swaffield said.

"One may be decorated with leaves and butterflies, while the other one may have a jazzy type look.

"With 212 children, when you are trying to get down to a final decision on design it can take some time, but we want them to feel involved.

"We are very pleased with the eco-houses and in September they will be in full use."

The teams from Nationwide and CRE Colliers also raised almost £11,000 to build an orphanage in Zimbabwe from their work.

Stephen Lipfriend, who helped build the playhouses said: "The response was fantastic both from the community, which pledged £11,000 for the project and the schoolchildren themselves.

"It was great fun for all the team to work alongside such an enthusiastic group of youngsters, and we have been impressed by their response to the challenge."

Charity NEST, which organised the challenge, said it would teach local volunteers in Zimbabwe how to build larger earth domes similar to the eco-playhouse.

NEST spokesman Bob Harris said: "The teams had the three-fold aim of building two eco-playhouses as a gift to the schoolchildren while raising youngsters awareness of sustainability and the environment.

"The money raised from the challenge will entirely fund NEST's current project to build five earth homes and one large community centre in Zimbabwe that will provide a family environment and ultimately benefit more than 250 orphaned or homeless children."