Thrilled little’uns got in line to meet the Gruffalo and Elsa from Frozen at the grand opening of their revamped nursery play area.

School governors and more than 40 parents turned up on Friday to watch Cllr Evelyn Carpenter, cabinet member for education and skills, cut the ribbon at the new Dorothy Barley Infant School space.

The Davington Road nursery in Dagenham used lottery funding to develop a the “natural” play area – named the Gruffalo ground – which comes complete with bamboo fencing and a Gruffalo hut.

Acting head teacher of the infant school, Anita Ratford, said: “It’s absolutely gorgeous. Friday went really well and was a lovely event. We tried to get Elsa to sing but she wouldn’t, but the children loved it all the same and there were lots of positive comments from parents.”

She added that parents were keen on “the natural feel” of the new play area which has been fashioned out of rope, bamboo and wood.