YOUNGSTERS at Whitley Primary School had a special visitor on Friday to officially open their new play area and library.

Shadow Chancellor George Osborne found time away from masterminding Conservative economic policy to drop in for a guided tour.

The MP for Tatton will have impressed boss David Cameron with his green credentials, hopping on a train, albeit a wooden one, with pupils Kate Merrell, Matthew Preston and Alex Wilkes.

And he gave his debating skills a good workout ahead of the next parliamentary debate in a Q&A session with pupils before rounding the morning off with a hard-earned cuppa with pre-schoolers.

"He spent quite a long time here and had a brilliant rapport with the children," said head teacher, Julie Morrison.

"They all wanted to know what it was like living in London compared to Cheshire and one boy asked what rule he would make first when he becomes Prime Minister.

"I think he was quite taken aback because he was only a year three but he said he would support schools."

Mr Osborne, a 36-year-old married farther-of-two, was so impressed he invited the school's year five and six pupils down to the House of Commons next year.

The play area, which includes a covered house, sand pit and stage, a shop and a writing area, is designed to encourage foundation class children to engage in the curriculum through playing outdoors.

The new library was built thanks to the fundraising of parents group, Friends of Whitley Primary School.