A CEILIDH is being held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a north Durham special school.

Staff and students at Hare Law School, near Stanley, are putting the final touches to the family festival of Irish music ahead of the event on Friday afternoon.

The school was opened on November 19, 1962, as offers education for young people aged four to 16 who have learning difficulties and conditions such as autism.

Headteacher Maggie Collins said: “The kids love dancing and it something we can do together as a school. We are asking parents to come in too so it is a real family occasion.”

Mrs Collins plans to hold a toast to remember the life of Alderman Jack Thompson who was chairman of governors from the school’s first day until he stood down earlier this year. He died over the school’s summer holidays.

She said: “Alderman Thompson was instrumental in ensuring that the school always had the needs of young people at heart of its work.

“The legacy he left us will always be the focus of our work with young people and their families.”