SCHOOLchildren yesterday shared the experiences of a long-serving former teacher who once met the Pope.

Two children from all four classes at Our Lady and St Joseph's RC Primary School, in Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham, visited the nearby home of retired teacher Ann Hughes.

She has developed a small shrine to the Pope, with the centrepiece being a photograph taken of her meeting John Paul II during a visit to the Vatican in the early years of his papacy.

Joining the small audience in the front room of the house, in St Ives Road, was another ex-member of staff at the school, Ms Hughes' former colleague Veronica McGurk, and headteacher Sharon Fenwick.

Ms Fenwick said the children had become aware of the admiration and love of the Pope in the few days since his death.

She said: "It was a lovely experience for them to see the picture and hear first hand of someone who actually went out to Rome and met the Pope.

"Miss Hughes spoke of just how special an event it was for her, and how excited she was to be in the presence of the Pope.

"Here was someone local, who once taught at their school, who could speak of her experiences of meeting the man himself.

"Miss Hughes was so enthusiastic. It was like a living history lesson and I think the children really appreciated it."

Mrs Fenwick said she planned to make television coverage available of tomorrow's funeral of the Pope for any of the 120 pupils wishing to watch events in the Vatican.