STUDENTS at a school invited elderly people from their community for an afternoon of entertainment yesterday.

About 100 guests arrived at Deerness Valley School, Ushaw Moor, near Durham, for the Christmas party.

There was a carol service, bingo, raffles, a drama and music provided by the school choir and band.

As well as helping to organise and run the event, students had raised some of the money to fund the party. The celebration was the culmination of a series of projects over the past year, where students have worked with older generations in the community, helping clean up gardens and serving pie and peas suppers at events.

The Friends of Deerness Valley School, an organisation made up of local people, parents and ex-pupils, organised yesterday's party.

The group's chairwoman, Valerie Snaith, said: "We were wanting the children and the elderly to get together so that they see each other in a different light.

"It's an inter-generational event, to promote good relations between the school and the wider community."