A TRADITIONAL summer fete to celebrate a County Durham school's centenary has raised more than £2,000 for Help for Heroes.

An estimated 400 children, parents, relatives, staff and supporters attended the fete marking 100 years of Barnard Castle Preparatory School.

School parents' group Barney Friends spent months planning the event, which included competitions in photography and art and craft for pupils, and the Great Barney Bake-Off for parents and children.

Each year group ran its own stall, from a coconut shy to welly-wanging, and there was a host of attractions provided by Brookleigh Riding Centre, the police, fire and rescue service, Teesdale Lions, the Queen's Royal Lancers and Barnard Castle Farmers' Market.

There were performances by the school's combined choir, brass band and children taking taekwondo as an activity, and the school catering team ran a barbecue and tea tent.

The afternoon culminated in The Alps Race, a mile-long fun run to the highest point of the school grounds known as The Alps, with a medal for every finisher.

The day was supported by a host of sponsors including Clarendon's, Dickinson transport, Edward Robertson digital design, French & Lamming Media, Hargreaves Logistics, Seaton Spring and Zara Countrywear.

Headmaster Carl Rycroft, for whom the fete was one of the last events before he leaves at the end of term with wife Becky and children Max and Isabelle, said: "Our Centenary Summer Fete was a roaring success and a fitting end to our year of Centenary celebrations.

“The competitions, displays, performances and stalls all added to a super afternoon’s family entertainment and we are delighted that it raised £2,165 for Help for Heroes.”

The fete was the climax to a year of centenary events and activities including a summer ball, a schools' hockey and rugby tournament, a gala concert, 100 challenges for pupils and the publication of a book celebrating the school's first 100 years by deputy headmaster Nick Seddon.