The Mayor of Morley, Coun Joyce Sanders, and school governor, Coun Judith Elliott, officially opened the project on Friday, handing over a cheque from the National Lottery Awards for All for £9,969.

The award forms the majority of the funding for their project to create a school garden and outdoor classroom where children can grow their own vegetables, harvest and eat them.

Deputy headteacher Joscelyne Durrant said: “We are really excited about the project as it gives pupils the chance to understand how vegetables are grown and their value to a healthy diet.

“It is an initiative which enables children to enjoy new extra curricular activities and at the same time helps all pupils to have a greater awareness of green issues.”

The Friends of Fountain Primary School have raised £500 to pay for a polytunnel and are working on raising money for Wellington Boots while councillor Elliott has donated £500 MICE money to help with buying gardening equipment and seeds for every class.

Parceline DPD has provided 100 sets of overalls for the children.

Teresa McGee, a strategic account manager with DPD, said: “We have worked with the school on a variety of projects involving recycling, encouraging them to recycle things like paper and cartridges, and make the children aware of green issues.”

The Groundwork Trust is also involved and will provide compost bins and seed potatoes.

The idea came from children on the school council and was taken up by caretaker David Fowler, who had long wanted a school garden, and teacher Tim Wilson, who wanted an outdoor classroom.

Already 150 children have signed up for school gardening clubs.