After a 20-year battle a Bradford community is celebrating the long-awaited opening of a new school.

Youngsters at St Philip's CE Primary have started the new school year in a new building in Whitby Terrace, Girlington.

And head teacher Judith Bey said the reality that they were no longer in temporary classrooms in Washington Street, where they were based for 20 years, was still sinking in.

"It's fantastic to have all this space and a lovely light and airy school," she said.

The former school was built in 1864 but had to be demolished in the early 1980s after rot was found.

The whole school was then based in temporary classrooms, including outdoor toilets for some of the children.

"Some children will only ever have known the temporary school rooms but now we are celebrating the start of a new year in this wonderful new building," said Mrs Bey.

The school is the last one to be built under the district's schools reorganisation which started in 2001.

It includes seven classrooms, a hall, IT suite and library, computerised heating system, and six CCTV cameras.

Chairman of governors, the Reverend Tony Tooby, said it was a massive boost for the community.

"We see this as a symbol of hope for the young people of Girlington which will give them opportunities to learn in the facilities they deserve," he said.

Mr Tooby said the main reason why their campaign took so long was because of the lack of available land in Girlington.

The new school was built on former community allotments, some of which were disused.

The school, which has 288 pupils, will have a community room for parents and residents to use for meetings and events in two years.

The fields, which are still to be finished, will also be available for the community for sports.