MAJOR celebrations are being planned to celebrate the 200th anniversary of a village's former school.

Author Anne Baron has organised a day of fun, feasting and games for the village's close-knit community to mark the anniversary of Thorpe Bassett School, near Malton.

The school actually closed in 1923 and the building is now the home of Mrs Baron, who has written a history of the village, The Story Of Thorpe Bassett.

She said the school was first established by the Reverend James Graves, who lived at Old Malton.

"I think he thought Thorpe Bassett needed a school so be built a Church of England school to educate eight to ten boys," she said.

"He invested £200, the equivalent today of about £100,000, and used the interest on the money to keep the school running.

"In the late 1800s the school was thriving. I have a picture of about 40 pupils celebrating Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee."

On Saturday there will be a Georgian-themed fun day in the school field with kite-making, a tug-of-war, skipping and throwing the riding boot. Georgian pennies will be given as prizes.

A spit roast with bread, cheese and traditional pickles will also be served.