STAFF and pupils are preparing to mark a school's 50th anniversary with a double celebration next month.

Plans are well under way at Redbrook Primary School, Roseworth, Stockton, for the event and former pupils are being invited to join in the festivities.

The celebrations are poignant, as the school is to close at the end of the summer term 2008, when staff and pupils will be joining Roseworth pupils at a school to be built nearby.

Redbrook school is particularly looking for pupils who attended the school when it was first opened, or during its early years.

Two celebrations are planned. There will be a Fifties-style street party for children on Friday, September 21, and an event for ex-pupils and former staff on October 5, when the Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Bill Noble, will attend.

Youngsters are working on projects about life in the Fifties and displays of the children's work will be on show at the events.

In a deserted cupboard, staff came across booklets recounting the opening of the school and lists of the original staff.

Valerie Rudd, headteacher at Redbrook Primary School, said: "Parents are already putting feelers out for those who still live in the community and already we have more than 150 contacts.

"It will be interesting to hear how life was in those days in the school, in comparison to today, and the children are already getting excited about their street party, which promises to be something they will always remember.

"We plan to hold the party outside, as in true Fifties street party style and any bad weather won't dampen our spirits - we will just hold it indoors."