A ROYAL model opened an art exhibition at a primary school yesterday, before taking pride of place among the exhibits.

Pupils at Montalbo Primary School, Barnard Castle, built the papier mache model of the Queen to mark the golden jubilee, and to make up for pupils' disappointment that the real one could not attend a party held in her honour.

Headteacher Riannon Rowe, said: "Some of the children got the wrong idea about our jubilee party a few weeks ago and thought that she was actually supposed to be visiting the school.

"So we thought we would make a model of her to keep everyone happy."

The model Queen was the star of the show at the launch of an art exhibition at the school last night.

The model will be on display as part of the exhibition of all the children's work until the end of term