A primary school is hoping the community it covers can help raise enough cash for a new state-of-the-art playground - something which staff say is badly needed.

St Cuthbert's School in Wigton has launched a crowdfunding appeal in the hope it can gather the £70,000 it needs to transform its dated outdoor space.

At the moment the South End school's playground is predominately an empty space with little apparatus, except for a small wooden play area, to use during break times, with youngsters having no choice but to use rusty goalposts and marking-free tarmac as well.

If successful in the bid, the new-look playground will include a team sports area for games like football and netball, a climbing area, a quieter area for children who don't want to be involved in the hustle and bustle as well as an open-air stage.

There are also hopes to revamp a garden area which has become tired so youngsters can grow fruit, vegetables and flowers.

The appeal for funding comes at a time when school budgets across Cumbria are coming under increasing pressure, with money for extras, such as play equipment, sometimes hard to find.

Headteacher Paula Holden told The Cumberland News : "It's completely blank at the moment.

"There's a big emphasis on outdoor education, learning outdoors, physical education, especially with increasing obesity problems.

"At the moment the children go out and they're left to their own devices.

"It's difficult in a blank space to stimulate them physically and mentally and develop those social skills."

She added: "Youngsters now spend such a lot of time inside on computers and iPads and they don't seem to go out to play like they used to.

"If we can provide that opportunity at school then it's going to benefit them.

"We know the amount of money we need is huge; that's why we'll probably have to do it in stages."

Miss Holden said that a good playground can be used as a classroom as well as a space for playing and relaxing in between lessons.

She added: "The children are always asking when we have school council meetings: 'Can we have more things in the playground?'

"It's always top of their list.

"For us staff it would be a huge benefit too in what we can offer the children.

"It's something we have wanted for a long time.

"But everyone knows the problems schools are having with budgets, it just won't stretch to things like this.

"There's so much we have to do with that budget, getting this money would be a huge boost to us."

Miss Holden continued: "At the same time we have other fundraisers planned and things in the pipeline.

"But we wanted to make it bigger and involve the whole community rather than asking parents all the time.

"It's going to be of community benefit so hopefully we can get some help from the community.

"There's people who are coming forward, which is great."

The school's deputy head, Anne-Marie Handford, has been sending letters out to local businesses and already one firm, Stitch & Print, has pledged support.

The school has also recently won £2,000 of funding from a Tesco donations scheme and a parent will take on the Great Cumbrian Run in October for the appeal.

Behind the school site, Genesis Homes is currently building a new housing estate.

Miss Holden and her team are in talks with them to see if there was any potential link-up between the firm and the school's playground bid.

An influx of extra pupils is likely when the estate is complete and families start moving in, so staff are hoping they can get the project off the ground quickly.

* To contribute to the school's funding, go to https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/st-cuthberts-play-area/.