A NEW pavilion has been opened at the Heart of the Forest Special School which will enable pupils to get more out of sport.

The £120,000 building at the school near Coleford will be affectionately known as ‘The Shed’ in honour of Gloucester rugby star Jonny May who officially opened the building last week.

The Shed is the name given to the famous terrace at Gloucester’s Kingsholm ground.

This 49 square metre building features a main room, seperate store, kitchen, and wheelchair accessible toilet. The pavilion has a decked area and is accessible to all, regardless of age or mobility.

It provides additional space for an inclusive sports facility positioned close to playing fields.

A third of the cost was met by Gloucestershire branch of Wooden Spoon, the rugby charity which supports building projects.

England wing Jonny said: “It’s great to see money raised in Glou­cestershire being spent in Gloucestershire.”

Pupils were excited to see the new facilities and to meet the rugby star.

Headteacher Melissa Bradshaw said: “This is a wonderful facility for the school and we are grateful for the support we have received from Wooden Spoon.

“In honour of Johnny May the pavilion will be affectionately known as ‘the shed’.”

Chairman of Wooden Spoon, Gloucestershire Tim Heal said: “Spoon concentrates on capital projects like this. One of our sayings in Spoon is ‘seeing is believing’ and the benefit is self-evident here.”