STORYTIME at Stadhampton Primary School will never be the same again, thanks to a unique new storytelling chair paid for by a 150-year-old trust.

The hand-carved wooden chair was unveiled to pupils on Wednesday, with professional storytellers joining youngsters for the occasion.

It was paid for by a school fund set up in the 19th century by the Peers family, of Chiselhampton Hall.

In recent times, the annual bequest had become more costly to administer than it was worth, so the remaining money was used to hire carver Simon Clements to create the chair.

Children have watched him at work, and designed their own dragons, fairies and pirate ships to decorate the chair.

Seven-year-old Greg Madry said: “It is really big, and I really like it. We got to see the carving being done, and I suggested a wizard should be carved.”

Headteacher Kathryn Turner said: “The children thought it was pretty amazing.”