DESPITE the winter gloom, a ray of sunshine came to Chagford Montessori Nursery School recently, when Elizabeth-Jane Baldry, the well known local harpist, officially opened the new outside xylophone.

Children, parents and guests gathered at the nursery, which has just received an 'outstanding' award from Ofsted, to watch the unveiling of the largest xylophone in Chagford.

The xylophone has been introduced to the nursery to provide an outside all weather musical instrument in the play garden.

Its purchase was made possible through the classroom manager Charmaine Bruijns, undertaking the Early Years professional status training — now everyone can enjoy making music, no matter the weather.