A 400 year old barn once reduced to a ruin with a tree growing out of it has been resurrected to serve children at Slough's Wexham Court Primary School and the surrounding community.

Athlete Marcel Hodge - a lifelong resident of Wexham - came along specially to cut the ribbon yesterday (Thursday) as the restored barn was revealed in all its glory as a shining new educational centre.

Marcel won a gold medal in the 200m race at the INAS World Indoor Athletics Championhips and hopes to compete in the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2020, following participation in the World Paralympic Athletics Championships in Dubai next year.

He was educated at nearby Wexham School and said: "I was happy to come and cut the ribbon today. I only live 10 minutes away but I would have come even if I lived miles away."

Slough's MP Tan Dhesi was another welcome guest.

The school's headteacher Navroop Mehat said that the barn had cost £80,000 to renovate with help from Slough Borough Council.

It will now be used as a learning and performing space for the children, while being hired out to the community for educational purposes.

Mrs Mehat said: "The children grow their own fruit and vegetables and the barn now has a kitchen that they can cook in."

Guests on the launch were able to sample the children's home made chutney.