A SMALL village school marked its impending closure with an open day.

Plawsworth Road Infant School in Sacriston, County Durham, which is down to its last six pupils, will close at the end of term.

Head teacher Christine Dillon said: “We didn’t want to go with a whimper, so today has been about celebrating 37 years the school has been in existence.

“We invited former staff, governors, pupils family and members of pupils to drop in and say goodbye.

“There were a lot of photographs from when the school opened to the present time and I made a brief history of the school for people to take away with them. There was a running buffet for the afternoon too."

Mrs Dillon, 65, who is also retiring, said: “I have been here since 1982. In one way I have closure, as it goes with me.

"It has been a rewarding career. 

“It has been great seeing former pupils. Some said they were disappointed their children couldn’t come to the school. It is the end of an era.”

Durham county councillors decided last July to close the school – which then had 30 pupils - because it was “extremely small”.