FORMERS pupils are being invited to join their old school's 60th birthday celebrations.

An invitation has been issued to anyone who has attended the Joseph Rowntree School at New Earswick, near York.

The first pupils started there in January 1942 and in July that year the school was officially opened by the then President of the Board of Education, Rab Butler.

Since then, thousands of pupils have passed through its doors and it is now a large modern comprehensive serving an area that includes the nearby villages of Haxby and Wigginton.

The school plans to celebrate the anniversary with a garden party on July 6. Headteacher Hugh Porter said: "We've already had a lot of interest from former students and we want to encourage as many people as possible to get in touch."

The school can be contacted on (01904) 768107