A playscheme on an Oxford estate has had a bumper summer thanks to its new boat.

The Dovecote, based in Greater Leys, was marked ‘outstanding’ in all 17 categories by Ofsted last September.

It runs an after-school and holiday club for children aged four to 12 and in April launched a 60ft narrowboat for children from the estate.

Children and families services co-ordinator Carol Richards said: “We’ve been really busy this year and with the boat project, we’re even busier. The children get to run around and do things they wouldn’t otherwise have ever had the chance to do.

“We’ve had play days, a carnival day, workshops with Pegasus Theatre, swimming and cinema trips and they’re all off to Gulliver’s Land.”

The playscheme has looked after 86 children this summer. Mrs Richards said the boat, which cost £50,000 and is moored on the Oxford Canal in Kidlington, had been a particular success.

She said: “Some children who can be a bit of a handful, when they get on the boat they are totally different. They steer the boat and help at all the locks.”

The group is hoping to raise money for a minibus to take children further afield. Mrs Richards said: “If we had our own minibus, it would enable us to make more use of the narrowboat project.

“It will also enable us to provide the children and young people with many more experiences and opportunities not normally accessible to them.

“It’s nice to highlight that local people can gain an ‘outstanding’ and help out in the community.”