Children got a sneak peak at their £4 million new school as a tree was ceremonially planted in the grounds.

The Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, planted the sapling at the new Rainbow Free School building in Nelson Street, Bradford, to mark the completion of the landscaping work.

The 170-pupil primary school, which opened in September, 2011, is currently housed in a Victorian building on Manningham Lane, but their new home will bring them closer to the heart of the city.

The new site formerly housed the 40-year-old fire brigade headquarters, which was demolished to make way for a two-storey school building with a prism-shaped room at its heart where children can congregate.

Amjad Pervez, chairman of the Rainbow Schools’ Trust, said: “The tree planting went fantastically well. The building is looking fantastic as well. The children are going from a very old building in Manningham to a purpose-built school.”

The new school is due to be handed over by builders Kier Northern later this week.