A RETIRING teacher bowed out in style as she left the school hall on the back of a Harley Davison.

Staff at Harelaw School, near Stanley, sprang the surprise on Joan Bell at a special assembly to mark her retirement last week.

Deputy headteacher Maggie Collins said: "We found out a couple of weeks ago that Joan had a full motorcycle licence.

"We wanted to give her something to remember and make a bit of a spectacle for the children, so this seemed ideal."

Just as Mrs Bell, who had worked at the school for more than 12 years, prepared to give a speech to staff and pupils, a biker Santa Claus, alias Jimmy Rimmer, of Ace Motorcycle Hire in Durham, roared into the building.

He whisked Mrs Bell away to the sounds of Steppenwolf's rock classic, Born to be Wild.

"It was a complete surprise but very lovely," said Mrs Bell. "I have never ridden on a Harley before - I used to dream of owning a Honda."