A FIELD of hope created by children has been blessed in a ceremony at a school.

Youngsters at St Thomas More RC Primary School, in Belmont, Durham, planted daffodil bulbs in front of their school, as part of Marie Curie Cancer Care's Field of Hope campaign.

The initiative involves daffodils - the charity's emblem - being sponsored in mem-ory of someone who has died.

Father Michael McCoy then blessed the site in a ceremony attended by parents and other members of the community.

Teacher Barbara Reilly- O'Donnell said: "We've created our own book of dedication in school, which contains the names of the people the bulbs are planted in memory of. That will stay with the field of hope for- ever."

Daffodils are also being planted on the bank above Framwelgate Peth, in Dur-ham, and at the George Washington Golf and Country Club, in Wearside.

Children from Usworth School, in Washington, and staff from Northumbria Wat-er are helping plant the bulbs, which have been donated by Clays Garden Centre and the town's B&Q.

Donations to have a bulb planted in someone's memory can be sent to Field of Hope, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Victoria House, 4 High Chare, Chester-Le-Street, County Durham, DH3 3PX. Cheques should be made out to Marie Curie Cancer Care.