A popular outdoor campsite for school children was saved in July - seven months after funding for the site was withdrawn.

Despite fierce opposition, Hertfordshire County Council announced that Cuffley Camp would be closing after it decided to negotiate with the landlord to withdraw from its lease.

But the outdoor education centre, which was created just after the end of the Second World War, was given a reprieve and set for a £1m redevelopment. Active Learning Group (ALG) bought the lease of the site and embarked on a year-long programme with the new and improved camp set to open this summer.

ALG chief executive Nigel Miller was handed the keys by Oliver Middlemiss, resident land agent at Hatfield House which owns the site and is the incumbent lease holder.

Mr Miller said: “We passionately believe that children should be actively immersed in the learning process and in turn, encourage self-assurance and character development in young people. We want kids to get stuck in and explore the outside world to build their creativity, confidence and resilience.

“We hope our commitments will help reassure local residents and their families that their much loved Cuffley is being restored and reinvigorated. In 2019, Cuffley will be reborn.”