PUPILS gave their teachers a "muchos gracias" after a Spanish day at school.

Reid Street Primary School, Darlington, held the day on Wednesday to strengthen their links with Spain.

Foundation and key stage one pupils, aged three to seven, enjoyed Spanish food, salsa dancing, non-alcoholic sangria, and studied Spanish culture, including Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.

Teacher Jane Knowlson said: "One pupil asked if we could have Spanish day every day."

Mrs Knowlson runs an after-school Spanish class, and visited Northern Spain in February, on a British Council trip to strengthen Anglo-Spanish relations.

A link was developed with a primary school in Santa Clara. Since then, Gema Lopez, a Santa Clara teacher, has visited Reid Street, and the schools have exchanged teddy bears. Reid Street's bear, George, and Santa Clara's bear, Pepe, are in touch via email.

Mrs Knowlson said: "It's brilliant because we have four and five-year-olds speaking Spanish to their parents."