The newly elected Mayor of Maidstone said that he was delighted as one of his first official duties to open Headcorn Primary School's new building.

Named Keeler House after the chairman of the school governors, Jack Keeler, the building gives the school an additional six classrooms, a small hall and an 'intervention room'.

It comes complete with a staircase and lift and has underfloor heating and natural ventilation and cooling systems to create a low energy, low carbon and sustainable building.

The Mayor said it was good to see a rural school being expanded so that village children didn't have to travel for miles.

Mr Keeler has been a governor at the school for more than 30 years.

The school in Kings Road celebrated with an open day, inviting the local community in to see their new facilities and entertaining them with a cafe run by the pupils and a entertainment from the school's musicians and choir.

Keeler House was built by Kier Construction and cost £2.9m.