Pupils at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Primary School in Witney have entered the controversial debate on the future of the town's former football pitch at Marriotts Close.

Supermarket giant Asda has ditched plans to build a superstore on the edge of the town in favour of a smaller store in the town centre at Marriotts Close, which has been empty for more than 10 years.

Many people in the town do not want a supermarket on the site.

Around 200 people attended a public meeting which had been called by the Liberal Democrats on December 4.

Many said that the town could not cope with any more traffic, which they said a supermarket would create, and called for the ground to be used for recreational purposes.

A group of 28 pupils at the primary school took part in an environment project and picked Marriotts Close as their topic.

The school's headteacher Anne Marie Kelly said: "They were looking at how Marriotts Close could be improved.

"They decided they would like it to be put to three separate uses with a botanical garden, a walled garden and an adventure playground -- with possibly a wildlife area as well.

"High on the agenda was something for all age groups."

The pupils drew up plans and wrote projects.

They also invited West Oxfordshire District Council's cabinet member Tony Walker to the school to hear their views.