A BURNED-OUT bus has been brought back to life at a school.

The route 50 bus has been transformed into a relaxing space and quiet learning area for children at St Nicolas CE Primary School in Portslade after a three-year labour of love by Brighton and Hove Buses and the school community.

Nathan Enticknapp, Frank Clasen, Steve Boreham and Neil Miles from Brighton and Hove Buses worked alongside parents, children and staff from the school, including Nathan’s brother Cain Ruff, who is the school’s caretaker, to restore the badly burned bus.

Since the renovation at the school in Locks Hill the bus has been used for story time, school council meetings and quiet play.

It has a library where children can sit on beanbags and read and a hugely-popular driver’s cab. A hatch will be added to the bus later to run a healthy snack bar.

Nathan said the project was about creating an extra outdoor space for the school. Brighton and Hove Buses supplied labour and donated materials.

He added: “It was?about?pulling the community together and teaching the children how to turn a negative into a positive with a great outcome,”

“This new learning space should expand the children’s imagination in a safe environment.

Who knows, maybe this could lead to potential?engineers and drivers for the future of Brighton & Hove Buses?”

The bus was officially opened at the school fete earlier this month and generated much excitement, particularly among the children.

Nathan said: “The kids thought it was absolutely fantastic. They really got involved.

“That was the main thing. It was massive for the school.”

St Nicolas’ headteacher Andy Richbell said the bus was decorated with 426 handprints, the handprints of every child and member of staff at the school.

He said: “All of the kids have been involved at one time or another, so they’ve seen it progress.

“It’s been a real community effort. They’ve been incredibly excited.

“After they went on the bus for the first time they told me ‘this is the best play time we’ve ever had at school’. They are the luckiest kids anywhere.

Andy said the results of the hard work has been great.

He said: “The difference between what we first imagined and what we have now has been unbelievable. It’s turned out much better than we thought it would.”