CHILDREN from a village primary school used a new footpath for the first time to enjoy their Christmas celebrations.

All 210 pupils from Layer-De-La-Haye Primary School attended a service at St John the Baptist Church to perform a nativity play.

The path was built as part of the Abberton Reservoir development.

Pedestrians can now walk safely from the village, past the church and on to Essex Wildlife Trust’s visitor centre.

Previously, there was no path along that stretch of the B1026. Headteacher Patricia Wilkie said: “I have received positive feedback from parents about the new footpath.

“We took the children to the church before the footpath was built, but all the school staff would have to help slow the traffic and it was quite stressful.’’ Essex and Suffolk Water is entering the final stages of construction of the £150million Abberton scheme – the country’s first major reservoir development in more than 20 years.