A TRADITIONAL all-American ritual has been adopted by teenagers reaching the end of their school days on this side of the Atlantic.

The annual end-of-term prom, the glitzy ball for school leavers across the US and the subject of many plots for Hollywood movies, has become a fixed date on the calendar at comprehensives across the North-East.

Among the schools holding proms is Easington Community School, in east Durham, where preparations are being made for the event.

Fundraising is well under way, with proceeds of a variety of events going towards the cost of staging the event, including the hire of stretch limousines to allow the ball-goers to travel to the event in style.

The school has also taken delivery of tuxedos and prom dresses for the ball, to ensure the 16-year-olds look the part, with the potential for many romances to blossom as the night wears on.

Overseeing prom arrangements is assistant head of year 11, Helen Rutherford, and history teacher Geoff Lumsdon.

Mrs Rutherford said: "We've had a number of fundraising events, which is helping to cut the cost.

"All the proceeds are going towards this year's prom, a yearbook for school-leavers to look back on their time at the school, and anything left over will go towards the cost of future proms."

About 125 year 11 students have booked the event, which takes place on Thursday, May 15, before they break up for GCSE study leave.