A school library wrecked in a storm is about to re-open following a major re-fit.
Hundreds of books were destroyed in Christ Church Junior School, Downend, after heavy rain in November 2018.
But pupils are excited to move into a new and improved library on Monday (February 3).
Head teacher Pippa Osborne said: “It's been a phenomenal community effort to overturn a complete tragedy.”
Torrential downpours during Storm Diana led to “sheets of water” streaming through the library roof, according to Mrs Osborne.
Children were evacuated into the school hall as the power was turned off, recalled Mrs Osborne, who likened the scenes in the library to “walking through a shower”.
The head teacher said: “It wasn’t ankle deep, but it was several centimetres deep of water on the floor.
“And it had nowhere to drain, so that ruined the carpet straight away.”
Since then, the library has been shut and pupils have been redirected to a makeshift book space.
However, the kids are now preparing to embrace the revamped facility, fresh from £87,000 works.
South Gloucestershire Council injected £70,000 into the project, while the school stumped up £17,000 through fundraising activities.
The school’s money has been spent on furniture, shelves, books, heating and a replacement computer, according to Mrs Osborne.
Asked how the children feel about the new library, Mrs Osborne said: “They’re so excited. It’s a novelty because it’s in a part of the school where they’ve seen it as an empty space and it’s been rotten and mouldy and they’ve seen it like that for a year, so it’s so exciting to have it opened back up again.”
She added: “We're about to open up a beautiful learning space which, although I wouldn't have wanted to go down this route, is a million times better than it would have been otherwise.”
South Gloucestershire councillor Erica Williams, cabinet member for schools, is due to visit the library on Monday.
She said: “I am so pleased that the hard work and investment to restore this vital school library has paid off and that hundreds of pupils will now be able to enjoy reading and learning here for years to come.
“As a council we were all devastated to hear about the damage caused by Storm Diana.
“Improving school standards is our number one priority, so I’m delighted that we have been able to support the school and work with them deliver this wonderful new library.”
