PLANS to extend Astwood Bank First School have finally been rubber stamped by the county council following objections last month.

The proposals to build three new classrooms using a £300,000 Government windfall were put on ice pending a site visit by county councillors on the planning committee.

Sport England, which promotes sport across the country, objected to a hard surface play area being built on playing fields to replace land lost to the classrooms.

The body opposes the loss of any grass sports surfaces.

The school argued the field was waterlogged for much of the year and a hard playing surface would serve it better.

The plans were approved on Monday.