Bournes Green junior school celebrated its 50th birthday with the grand opening of a new outside theatre.

Four hundred parents, grandparents, students and past and present staff joined the school’s birthday party. The school choir sang on the theatre and students learnt about the history of the school.

Brian Sanford, chairman of governors, said celebrations centred on the new theatre.

He said: “We officially opened the new theatre with two of the former heads and the present heads cutting the ribbon. The theatre took a lot of planning but only three weeks to actually build.”

He added the theatre will be used for outdoor activities, productions and performances for the community.

Shoebury High School concert band and dancers performed in the evening for the school. Mr Sanford expressed thanks for their performance, adding: “All acts that performed did so voluntarily so we thank them very much.”