WORK to complete the installation of a £950,000 water main across a school playing field during the summer holidays was finished in time for pupils to return to their desks.

South East Water installed the new water pipe in the grounds of Robert May’s School in Odiham.

It was the final section of the 30-week project which has seen around two miles of water pipe laid between Greywell and Odiham.

The new pipeline will help the company meet future demand for water as the community grows.

Ben McKellar, project manager at South East Water, said: “Working together with the local community is a vital part of our business.

“This new pipeline was needed to make sure we can keep tap water flowing in this area for years to come as the population expands.

“Part of the scheme included laying a pipe across the school’s playing fields.

“Working closely with the school we made sure this work was carried out during the school holiday and we were delighted to be able to return the area back to normal in time for the start of the new term.”

The project formed part of the company’s £424m investment programme which is taking place between 2015 and 2020.