A NORTH Durham school tonight (Friday, January 11) celebrated the New Year with a spectacular festival of light featuring a range of special effects.

The mini-Lumiere staged in the grounds of Newker Primary School, in Chester-le-Street, was the culmination of a school project based around light.

During the week, Malcolm Stamp of Storyteller puppets produced shadow puppet show for each year group as well, as working with children in classrooms to produce their own puppet silhouettes.

Foundation stage teacher Gemma Hanson said: “Each year group took on the challenge to produce their own range of light exhibits for the spectacular celebration.

“Children have worked with lantern makers to make some impressive structures. They have all had fun working a variety of people. It has been educational as well, including elements of science and art.”

Among the themes were the North Pole, including an Eskimo igloo, a Chinese theme and a World War One theme.

The finale for the evening was a blazing performance from a fire eater.