PUPILS enjoyed a special birthday party to celebrate the centenary of their school building.

Woodlea Primary School, at Fence Houses, near Chester-le-Street, laid on the festive lunch in the yard today (Friday, September 20) before a launch of balloons later in the day and a visit from an ice cream van.

The school, in Gill Crescent South, has more than 230 pupils ranging from three-year-olds in the nursery to 11-year-olds approaching secondary school. The day started with a parade of a banner specially made for the centenary.

The miners-style emblem, which the school hopes to take to Durham’s Big Meeting next year, features images from the ten decades of the building’s existence.

The celebrations will continue with a visit to Beamish Museum, near Stanley, in October when youngsters will be able to don period costume and get an idea of what life was like for their predecessors when the school opened in 1913.

Teacher Claire Francis, who organised the event, said: “We have a fantastic birthday cake of our school that was made by one of our parents.

“We have loads of things planned across the year. This is kick-starting everything.

"It was the official birthday on September 9 but that was very near the start of term so we picked today to have the official opening of our celebrations.”