CHILDREN at Hakin Community School are sitting pretty at play time thanks to a donation from two local businesses.

The school’s friendship bench, which was stolen earlier this year, has been replaced thanks to Cariad Crafts, Milford Haven, and local builders merchant Talbot Timber.

During play time, any child who doesn’t have someone to play with can sit on the bench and the other children will know to go over and invite them to join in with their fun. A real focal point of the playground, it’s also used by pupils to sit and talk with their friends, and to play hide and seek behind.

Nikki Austin, of Cariad Crafts, said she and her partner Byron Jenkins were tipped off that the bench had gone missing after seeing a post on Facebook, and were inspired to help out.

Using wood donated by Talbot Timber, she and her partner Byron created a new bench, and painted a new bench, which was delivered to the school last week.

“The reason we’ve helped is because of what the bench represents,” she said. Nikki was bullied at school, and believes a friendship bench would have made a big difference when she was younger.

School teacher Mrs Delyth Evans said she was very grateful for the kind gift, and the children were very happy to have somewhere to go when they were feeling lonely.