IT WAS all smiles on Sunday as Cairneyhill Primary youngsters were treated to a party 'extravaganza' before returning to school this week.

Tiffani Baillie, a mum whose daughter attends the school, set up an online fundraising page following the devastating blaze on December 8.

The £1,000 target was smashed in a week and more than £2,500 was raised in total as donations flooded in.

The money helped go towards the back-to-school party at Forrester Park which had discos, face-painting, a photobooth and visits from superheroes and Disney characters.

Tiffani told the Press that she was stunned to surpass the initial target and was delighted that youngsters, staff and parents could have the fun day before school started on Monday after the Easter holidays.

She said: "Everything went really well and all of the entertainment was amazing. I thought it might be a bit chaotic with so much going on but it seemed like the kids had a ball.

"I had to keep everything a secret from my daughter for ages. I kept getting deliveries for the party and I had to keep quiet about it.

"We had money left over so that's all been donated to the school so they can help pay for buses for school trips in the future; something fun, rather than equipment."

A parade from Forrester Park back to the school, on Northbank Road, followed the party where headteacher Mrs Hall spoke to families.

Her pupils and staff had been having classes at Tulliallan Primary in Kincardine in the wake of the blaze as demolition work was carried out and temporary classrooms were built.

She said: "We are all so glad to be back. It was lovely to see the children's faces light up as they came back today (Monday). Our hosts for the last four months at Tulliallan have been so accommodating and made us feel so welcome I can't thank them enough but this is our school and it is good to be back.

"We had so much support from a huge variety of sources both within and outwith the council. I want to thank everyone who stepped in to help over the last few months, staff who have gone over and above to make sure everything was ready for us today. Especially, I'd like to thank Tulliallan staff, pupils and parents for allowing us to share their school all this time and other schools who donated equipment to us following the fire, but also the wider community and the families who have supported us throughout this difficult period.

"Although the fire was devastating for the school, the warmth and kindness of all those who stepped in to offer help made it all so much easier.

"I also want to thank my amazing staff team again for their care, calmness, support and professionalism and my amazing children who I always say are the best, because they are!"