BLESS her and all who play in her - these could have been the thoughts of staff and parents at the launch of a wooden boat on Portland.

They watched youngsters aboard the HMS Friendship in the playground of Grove Infants School. The ship was made for the children by inmates at HMP The Verne and the honour of launching it by cutting a ribbon went to Neve Walker and Kieran Gleed who had won a naming competition.

The launch followed the school's harvest festival where parents contributed generously to the harvest fair which raised £131.

Head teacher Jane Hurdiss spoke of the gratitude of all at Little Stars, the school's new Foundation Stage Unit for children aged 3-5 years, as well as the generosity of HMP The Verne and Toymaster and Early Learning for their donations of toys and equipment. She said: "Our children now have a wide range of quality resources to enjoy." She added an invitation to the Little Stars open day on December 1.

Phone 01305 820563 for further details.