A SCHOOL is to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a Mass led by the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.

Bishop Kevin Dunn will lead the celebrations on Friday at St Bede's School, in Lanchester.

The school was built in 1965, but this will be the 40th anniversary of the official opening in 1966, timed to coincide with St Bede's Feast Day on May 25.

There will be a reception after Mass for local dignitaries and staff and pupils of the school.

Bishop Dunn said: "It was a dream of the Catholic community of north-west Durham in the last century to have their own school, and they built one they can truly be proud of.

"St Bede's has been a beacon of excellence in this part of the diocese for 40 years, and we pray that it maintains its standards for another 40 years and more."

A sixth form centre and science laboratories are to be built this summer, with the help of a £500,000 donation from the charitable trust of Lanchester-based businessman Sir Tom Cowie.

Work is expected to start on the new building in July as well as on the conversion of the current sixth form block for use as areas for inclusion, administration and staff development.

The new Sixth Form Centre is expected to be finished by September next year.