SWIMMERS have raised the roof at a primary school near Ipswich and raised £50,000 to enclose their pool.Pupils at Beacon Hill primary school, Martlesham, can now use their pool all year after a Raise the Roof campaign successfully reached the ambitious fund raising target.

SWIMMERS have raised the roof at a primary school near Ipswich and raised £50,000 to enclose their pool.

Pupils at Beacon Hill primary school, Martlesham, can now use their pool all year after a Raise the Roof campaign successfully reached the ambitious fund raising target.

Boys and girls were only able to swim for three months a year, weather permitting, before the fund raising appeal. The school raised £20,000 and received a £10,000 grant from Suffolk Coastal and £5,000 from the Woodbridge and Melton Market Towns Initiative Partnership towards the target.

Mac Miles, Partnership chairman, said: ''Even though the pool was already heated, being exposed to the elements meant that the weather dictated when it was used. For example, in 1999 the pool could only be used for three weeks – now the target is for year-round swimming with more community use than ever.''

Stephen Stokes, a school governor, said: ''The pool has always been used by the community and these much-needed improvements will mean that not only can our children use the pool more often but we can open it up more to local groups.

''It has been a lot of work to get to this stage but it has really been an example of the community working together in partnership to upgrade a facility that will be an important asset for years to come.''

Brownies, scouts and nurseries are some of the community groups to benefit from the improvements. Deben Swimming Club performed at the opening ceremony and Mark Stevens, a club member and former Beacon Hill pupil, officially opened the pool.