GENEROUS football clubs have been thanked by a primary school after they donated funds to repair a playground damaged by a suspected arson attack.

The play area, affectionately known as Teletubby Hill, at Great Wakering Primary School was torched on New Year’s Day, ruining £20,000 worth of equipment.

Great Wakering Rovers and the Great Wakering Colts Youth team have each donated £250 to the school to help repair and rebuild their play area.

Parents have also raised £470 through a non-uniform day at the school and other community members have been chipping in as well.

Heather White, from the school, said: “We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the local support for the play area.

“We have a claim in with the insurers at the minute but thanks to people’s generosity we are now hopeful of not only repairing the area but also improving it.

“The football clubs have been fantastic, as have our parents at the school, even Gossip tea room in the village is doing a charity tea tasting for us as well.”