A new era of education is underway at a popular Carlisle primary school as it celebrates a £1.4m expansion.

More than 200 parents, neighbours and invited guests packed into the hall at Houghton Church of England Primary School for a formal ribbon-cutting event.

They watched pupils sing and perform - including year five pair Emma Andrews and Griffin Kirkman-Evans give a rousing speech - before a red ribbon was cut.

Ken Potts, the 91-year-old retired headteacher who led Houghton School for more than 25 years, was among those invited to this afternoon's celebration.

Mr Potts, of Newfield, Carlisle, was appointed as headteacher just a few months after it relocated to its current Jackson Road site.

He said: "I came in 1959 and was here for 27 years. It was newly built when I first arrived and we only had two rooms and a hall. During my time we had three extensions and we also used to have a swimming pool.

"It is emotional coming back. It is wonderful to see the school flourishing."

Councillor John Bell, the chairman of Cumbria County Council, cut the ribbon with 11-year-old Callum Howe and Millie Osliff, who is four.

The county council has invested £1.165m in the project.

A further £235,000 has come from Story Homes as part of planning conditions it had to meet to build 99 new homes at Eden Gate, on the edge of the village.

Adam McNally, land manager at Story Homes, said: "This is an excellent example of partnership working. It is a bold and bright education facility that will benefit our new residents and schoolchildren."

The extension will allow the school to grow its pupil numbers from 140 to 210 over the next few years.

The growth comes as a result of new housing developments in the schoool's catchment area.

The work has included creating a new kitchen, which allows the school to provide its own meals on site for the first time in around 15 years.

The school has also had a new roof and improvements to its wiring and heating systems as part of the scheme.

Councillor Sue Sanderson, cabinet member responsible for schools and learning at the county council, said: "To have two additional classrooms here too is going to be exceptionally good for the children."

Roger Cowton, chairman of Houghton School's governing body, said: "Throughout my time at the schol we've always spoken of our ambition to be able to have a classroom for every year group and now it is fabulous that we've achieved that."

Headteacher Lindsey Slater thanked all involved in the work, including the support of residents.

"We must say thank you to the residents who have been incredibly patient," she said.

"It is hard enough living next to a school but with building work going on it can be even harder."

The extension, which almost doubles the footprint of the building, was designed by Architects Plus and construction was carried out by Thomas Armstrong.

Houghton School was recently named in the top 50 small state primaries in England by an influential guide.