BROADCASTER Angela Rippon has praised a North-East primary school for being a role model in its work with dementia sufferers.

Ms Rippon, who has become an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society visited Bernard Gilpin School, in Houghton-le-Spring, today (Wednesday, December 3) after being conferred with an honorary degree at Newcastle University.

A co-chair of the Prime Minister’s Dementia Friendly Committee Champion’s Group, Ms Rippon said the school was one of 21 nationwide that pioneered a project to revolutionise the way people think about the condition.

The school, which last year opened a Living Room for sufferers and their carers, hosts a number of dementia-friendly activities. It has been highly commended in national awards.

Mr Rippon said: “Bernard Gilpin School was one of the original 21 pioneer schools, really just to see if it would work – and it did work.

“As a result we have been gradually rolling it out into other schools so we have nearly 500 involved now.

“All the kids have become dementia friends.They normally have about 30 people come in every week.

“I love seeing the enthusiasm these youngsters have got, because for me it proof that kids get it – they don’t have that word stigma attached to it.

“The wonderful inter-generational communication is absolutely fabulous to see.”

Earlier, Ms Rippon was awarded an honorary doctor of civil law degree at Newcastle University.

She said: "I'm enormously honoured. For someone who never actually went to university, there's an irony of me standing here and getting a doctorate."

"But it is an enormous honour and, for me, a day of great pride. My family come from this part of the world and also being associated with Newcastle University and the work that it does with their Institute of Ageing.”

Ms Rippon's late mother suffered from dementia and she says that ever since then she has tried to speak out about the condition to remove some of the fear that exists around it.