CHINESE dragons and lions took over a Bishop Auckland primary school as it staged an oriental festival.

All 168 pupils at Cockton Hill Infant School made paper dragons yesterday and older children helped to make a 30ft dragon to parade around the playground.

Earlier in the week, they enjoyed making kites, were taught a dragon dance and basic calligraphy and sampled Chinese cuisine using chopsticks.

They even learned how to greet each other and answer the class register in Chinese.

Headteacher John Redman was among a delegation of headteachers from five primary schools in the county who visited China last Easter.

They were invited by Chinese education officials to share their expertise on the British education system.

Inspired by their trip, the teachers decided to bring the Orient to Crook Primary School, Catchgate Primary School near Stanley, and Langley Park Primary School and Sacriston Junior School, both near Durham.