FORTY years after they left school, former classmates are gathering from all over the world for a reunion.

The Friends Reunited Internet website has inspired the gathering, which will take place in Spennymoor, in May.

Pam Taylor has already used the site to contact old friends and is now trying to trace many more people who left Alderman Wraith School, now Spennymoor School, between 1960 and 1970, to invite them to a reunion she has planned in Spennymoor Town Hall on May 11.

She said: "Old friends are coming from Australia and South Africa, as well as from all over this country. We have all gone on to do different things, so it will be interesting to meet up again and hear lots of different stories. I contacted some of them through Friends Reunited, but not everybody has the Internet, so I hope more will get in touch."

Mrs Taylor can be contacted on (01325) 307139