Pupils at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Rothwell, currently have to take some of their classes in the school hall due to lack of space.

Now parents are joining forces with teaching staff and school governors in a 'Buy A Brick' scheme to raise £35,000 towards the cost of a new classroom and resource area for their children.

Under their initiative, a permanent pathway laid with specially engraved bricks outside the school will mark people's generosity.

For £50 a time, families, supporters of the school and local businesses will be able to put their names on the project – 'Superbricks' selling for £100 a time.

Headteacher Stephen Nicholson said: "The situation is that our Year 4 pupils are being taught in the school hall which means there are no PE classes at the moment and that events like school assemblies can only take place in half the hall.

"The pupils also have to put up with constant noise from people coming and going through the hall so we really need this new classroom.

"It will provide us with an invaluable resource. "

Mr Nicholson added the new space will also be able to incorporate facilities like a new reading area and library and provision for an after-school club.

The Diocese of Leeds, which is responsible for 90 per cent of the funding for the school, has pledged to pay the rest of the £350,000 cost of the project.

Members of the Friends Of St Mary's, a fundraising scheme backed by parents and governors at the 204-pupil school, plan to make the 'Buy A Brick' venture the focus of their fundraising efforts over the next few months.

But there will also be a a series of other events as part of their determined bid to raise the £35,000 as soon as possible.

They include a race night, quizzes, and an appeal to local businesses to help them reach their goal.

Past pupils and churchgoers are also being asked to donate money towards the cause.