THREE schools teamed up to serenade shoppers and tell them about the benefits of independent education at the weekend.

Durham School, Durham High School for Girls and Durham Chorister School - where former Prime Minister Tony Blair was pupil - are the fee-paying schools in Durham City.

They set up shop at the Waitrose store, inside The Gates shopping centre, on Saturday.

Singers and musicians from the schools took turns to perform for shoppers and distribute leaflets and information about the benefits of independent schooling.

Waitrose, which took over the store from Safeway, joined in by providing fruit for passers-by.

A spokeswoman for Durham School said: "It is the first time our schools have done anything like this and it demonstrates our commitment to a spirit of co-operation."