Great British Bake Off star Liam Charles cut the ribbon for the grand opening of Canonbury Primary School’s new playground on Friday.

Islington Gazette: Children at Canonbury Primary School on their new playground equipment. Picture: Polly HancockChildren at Canonbury Primary School on their new playground equipment. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

Parents pitched in to help raise the cash to improve the facilities, with one auction raising £42,000.

Headteacher Patrick Mildren, 50, said: “It’s been mind-blowing – they’re actually enjoying it more than I could have possibly imagined.”

He said: “It is a physical manifestation of the spirit of the school because we couldn’t have done it without the parents, the PTA’s money, the foundation’s money and without the school budgets”.

Cllr Caroline Russell stopped by at the unveiling.

Islington Gazette: Children at Canonbury Primary School on their new playground equipment. Picture: Polly HancockChildren at Canonbury Primary School on their new playground equipment. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

She said: “It just feels like a complete haven.

“It’s got all these things for the children to play on and it’s just wonderful.”

Pupils Cecilia Bird and Evelyn Cowhig, both nine, said their new playground was “the best thing ever”.