PRIMARY school pupils have benefited from some worldly-wise advice and reminiscences from a mature group of visitors this week.

The first Grab a Grandparent event is proving a success at Framwellgate Moor Primary School, in Durham.

Instead of inviting parents to visit the school, many of whom are unable to attend due to work commitments, it was decided to ask the children's grandparents.

The invitation applied to grandparents of all 269 pupils, from nursery classes up to ten and 11-year-olds.

Teaching staff have been surprised at the early success of the scheme, which ends tomorrow.

Reception class teacher Joni White, who is helping to co-ordinate the visits, said: "It's a two-way thing really, which hopefully will benefit both the children and their grandparents, I suppose a bit of an eye opener for both.

"For the grandparents it's a chance to see what schools are like now, clearly in many ways quite different from their younger days.

"On the other hand, they are talking to the children telling them what school was like for them."