Falklands veteran Simon Weston has officially launched the first new school in Plymouth for nearly 20 years.

Mr Weston, now a children's author, was invited to Riverside Community Primary to formally open the new school on Tuesday 3 June.

He was on board the Sir Galahad when an Argentinian missile hit it during the Falklands War.

Mr Weston suffered horrific burns, but his road to recovery with countless operations and skin grafts became a tale of personal triumph and courage.

Riverside Community Primary, which overlooks the River Tamar, is the first to be completed as part of the Council's Private Finance Initiative with Pyramid Schools' consortium and 420 pupils and a further 60 nursery-aged youngsters have settled at the school.

Children from Barne Barton and Bull Point community primary schools are settling in and making new friends at the school, which has a technology suite, a drama studio, interactive boards, wireless internet access and 70 computers as well as classroom.

Outside, there are four new playgrounds as well as a purpose-built sport pitch and there's also a habitats area where youngsters will be able to learn about wildlife. A running club for parents has already started as well as a basketball club.

Head teacher Brian Jones said: "We are delighted to have Simon officially open the school for us. His courageousness has been truly inspirational for adults and children. He's a children's author so we hope he may also find some time to read to the children."

Councillor Grant Monahan, cabinet member for Children and Young People, added: "This is an incredible school and it is great to be able to mark this special day by having someone of Simon's calibre here.

"This is the first of number of new schools being built in Plymouth. It is an exciting time for education in this city and Riverside is at the forefront of a wave of change."

Contractors Interserve built the £5.2m school as part of the Council's PFI initiative which also includes the construction of the learning campus at Whitleigh, due to open in the autumn.

More schools are currently being built or are in the planning and design phases as part of the city's programme of investing in new facilities.