Harold Wilson was Prime Minister and Nancy Sinatra was at number one with These Boots are Made for Walking when St Mary's Primary School, Hadleigh, set out to fence off its grounds.

Headteacher Alison Herbert said she was delighted the four-decade campaign was over.

She said: "We are just waiting for the final gate to be put in and we can at long last make full use of the playing fields. Up until now we had to keep children close to the school because the boundary was not secure."

In 1966 the land was bought by Suffolk LEA from Hadleigh Urban Council. A condition required the county to "forever hereafter" let the public use the land for exercise, so long as they did not interfere with the school.

Mrs Herbert said children's safety was now paramount and parents had voiced concerns about a lack of security.

Town councillors agreed to the fence but the public can still use the land in the evenings and at weekends.