FORMER pupils were reunited after decades apart as they paid a nostalgic last visit to their old school.

More than 100 people, mostly in their fifties and older, were allowed into the fenced-off grounds of Roseberry College and Sixth Form at Newfield, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

The school was closed last year by Durham County Council, despite a committed campaign to keep it open.

The building is due to be flattened in the near future.

When news of its demise spread among old boys and girls, through a Facebook page called Pelton Fell Remembered By Over-50s, the clamour grew to take one last look at the old place.

On Saturday (March 28) afternoon they gathered at the school gates and were allowed into the grounds where they had photographs taken and spent time looking at the changes made through the years.

Event organiser Graeme Thompson, 54, of Pelton, said health and safety rules prevented them being allowed in to the school to wander the corridors.

He said: “It went really well. I was surprised how many people turned up.

“There were about 40 people just from our era, but loads of other people from different times and groups turned up. There was a lot of interest.

“We had a good walk around the grounds, the old yard, which was totally different from when we were at school.

“It was so good because people hadn’t seen each other for 40, 50 years. We were talking about different teachers and things that had happened.”

The reunion continued into the night at The Falcon pub, on the outskirts of Chester-le-Street.

“We took the place by storm,” Mr Thompson, adding. "We are going to try to do another reunion, because quite a few people couldn't make it."