PRIMARY school youngsters celebrated a successful year with a blessing ceremony.

Kevin Dunn, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle Diocese, joined children at St Joseph's RC Primary School, Coundon, for the ceremony on Friday.

The blessing coincided with the unveiling of the a stained glass window that pupils helped to create through the Creative Coundon Project.

The window celebrates the village's mining routes and was designed by pitman and artist Tom McGuiness. The children also received help from artists Duncan Storr, Graeme Hopper and Sylvia Bearpark.

The window can be seen at the entrance of the school.

Headteacher Stefa McManners said: "It was a very special day for us and we had a really nice time.

"We have had a successful year at the school and it was nice to share it with everybody.''