15321POP legend Midge Ure has been lined up to open new gardens and play equipment at Broughton Gifford pre-school.

The former Ultravox frontman has agreed to come along to the school's open day and fete next month, when the new facilities will be officially opened.

The pre-school, which has 14 children on its books, is creating a sensory garden and soft play area in the grounds of the village hall where it is based.

A grant of £3,600 from the National Lottery's Awards for All scheme is paying for the equipment, which is due to be installed this week.

Parents and children have been getting involved in the fundraising and on Monday the youngsters took part in a sponsored trike race, an annual event that usually raises up to £300 for school funds.

Pre-school chairman Jayne Hurd said: "The children get really excited about it and we invite all the parents in to join in the fun."

The event, on July 3 from 11am-4.30pm, is to be an old-fashioned fair, with coconut shies and hooplas rather than more modern games. There will also be a bar and a barbecue.

Members of the Broughton Gifford Gardening Society have volunteered to come in and create a vegetable garden for the youngsters to look after and Lowden Nursery at Shaw is providing richly scented plants for the sensory garden.