CHILDREN from across Teesdale have been turning up to school in their summer holidays - but there hasn't been a textbook in sight.

Barnard Castle School has been hosting its annual activity week.

Almost 170 children from around the area got the chance to take part in a host of sporting and creative activities ranging from golf, tennis, cricket, swimming and squash to arts and crafts, canoeing, Danish long ball and catch the flag.

Organiser, Barnard Castle School teacher Martyn Lewis, said activity week had been running for the past eight years and was as popular as ever.

"It is great to be able to share our facilities with children from the wider community," he said.

"It is also useful for the children who will start here in September to get a feel for the place and to make new friends." Eight staff and a dozen young volunteers, some ex-pupils, run the event for the children.

"It is very much based on goodwill and the volunteers do a fantastic job," Mr Lewis said.

"It has a real family atmosphere to it and the main thing is that the children have a fabulous time."