AN Eden primary school is campaigning to raise £50,000 to create a new classroom to meet an unprecedented demand for places.

It is estimated that the new classroom planned for Kirkby Stephen Primary School will cost approximately £100,000 with the school having pledged 50 per cent of the money from its own budget.

The new facility is being proposed to help manage the rapidly increasing numbers of pupils applying to attend the school.

"Thirty is the normal class size," said head teacher Lynne Wade. "This year it was 44. Of the 44, 43 do live in our catchment. The one that is not already has an older sibling in school."

At the moment there are 238 pupils at the school but come September there will be 255. Mrs Wade said that in her nine years working there she has never known numbers to be so high.

She added that she thought the figures could be attributed to a high local birth rate or people moving into the area.

The appeal has so far raised £18,000 but with a further £32,000 still to go the school is calling on the local community to help out in any way it can.

Out of Eden, a hospitality supply business in Kirkby Stephen, is one of those supporting the cause.

Mike Gannon, managing director of Out of Eden, said: “We’re pleased to be able to help out the school. It’s a cornerstone of the community here in Kirkby Stephen and many of our staff have children who attend so it’s a cause that is close to many of our hearts.

“We always try our best to support local causes and give back where we can to the community so we’re really glad to be able to help out with the new classroom.”

And local people have already organised a range of fun fundraising events around the town in a bid to back the build.

More than 50 people will partake in a sponsored abseil down the town’s church clock tower on May 20 in aid of the cause.

The school has offered parents and local business owners the chance to buy a brick for £1 each and there will be a summer ball at the Castle Green Hotel on June 17.

"It’s such an important cause, we pride ourselves on giving local children the best start in life but the amount of applications for places at the school has increased hugely and we wanted to offer everyone a place in September," Mrs Wade said.