CHILDREN across east Durham celebrated the close partnership between their schools with a day of activities and song.

The Peterlee Partnership was forged several years ago to work together for pupils in the district.

Today (Tuesday, July 7) 18 schools took part in a series of visits at seven host schools.

About 400 children gathered at Thornley Primary School, which was visited by pupils from three neighbouring schools.

Headteacher Jennifer Watt said: “Children can be very insular in the little rural villages and this helps to get them to feel part of something bigger.

“Each year different schools get together and get the chance to meet other pupils from across the partnership.

"Each cluster of schools organise their own programme of activities for the day.”

During the year local singer Katie Doherty visited schools throughout east Durham to write a song with pupils – the title of this year’s song was Respect 6.

Children at Thornley Primary were joined by their counterparts from Ludworth Primary School, Cassop Primary School and Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School, in Shotton.

They enjoyed fairground rides provided free by Turners funfairs of Thornley, shows by Nick the Magician, a series of side shows, activities on a multi-sport area and crafts.

They were also able to leave messages on a Wall of Respect.

Each child was given a wristband to identify the group they were in and an autograph book to collect the signatures of others.

At the end of the day they released 400 coloured balloons.

Other gatherings were held at Hesleden Primary, St Joseph’s RC Primary in Blackhall, Shotton Primary School and at Acre Rigg Infant School and Acre Rigg Academy and Howletch Lane Primary School, in Peterlee.