A life-size oak tree used in the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony is now sitting at the heart of a school’s new "enchanted" library.

Children sat on stumps to read a book under the tree at the opening of the imaginative suite at Epsom Primary and Nursery School, in Pound Lane, Epsom, last Wednesday (March 18).

Deputy Head teacher Michelle Pollard said the library project's architects nodded and smiled when the school said it wanted to create a "learning tree" - its symbol.

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She said: "Then three weeks later they came to a meeting with huge smiles, we knew something was up."

Mrs Pollard cried when the architects revealed the creators of huge tree were donating it to the school.

The tree rose from a grassy mound, representing Glastonbury Tor, as more than a billion people watched Danny Boyle’s ceremony to kick off the London games.

Workers steamed out from beneath the roots as the tree was lifted into the air and an industrial revolution transformed the rural scenery.

Simon Moore, from the architects Felce and Guy Partnership, said while doing research for the school project he was put in touch with Simon Kenny from scenery builders Souvenir Scenic Studios.

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Mr Moore said: "It was quite an unreal moment.

"I called him to ask if he knew how we could create a tree to become part of the EPS library and he laughed and said ‘I have a very special tree, sitting unloved and unused in my yard and I would love for it to have a home and a resting place that will be enjoyed by generations to come, and fulfil the sustainability legacy of the games’."

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Mr Kenny said his team put the tree back together by attaching branches and leaves the 10ft truck so that it fitted the library space. They also created the stump stools.

He said: "We were happy to donate the labour and time to the school because we want to support education in these hard times. We are very happy for the tree to have another life.

"It was great to see everybody’s faces and how excited they were. The room they created is like a magic world."

The Enchanted Learning and Technology Suite will be used for reading, research, IT and drama activities as well as the breakfast and after school club.

Dan Freedman, author of books about a young footballer Jamie Johnson, was joined by the mayor and other guests at the opening of the library.

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Tracey Blandford, marketing manager at the school, said: "After 15 months of hard work, I am so proud of what has been achieved and cannot wait for the world to see it at our opening event and the children to use it."

Former pupil Barrie Kinchington, who joined the school back in 1947 and is now in his 80s, said ahead of the opening: "I am delighted to be invited to attend, I cannot wait to see the new library and the school in general."

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