FORMER pupils travelled from as far as Australia to celebrate a school's silver anniversary.

A photographic exhibition at Greenfield Arts and Community College, in Newton Aycliffe, helped visitors to recall their schooldays at the weekend, as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations.

Headteacher Mike Thornton said about 400 people had attended the exhibition on Saturday, including his two predecessors, Ray Naylor and David Tate.

Over the years, the school has been transformed from a comprehensive school threatened with closure into an arts and community college.

Mr Thornton said: "The biggest reaction that I have noticed is to the changes that have been made.

"A lot of people were worried about what it was going to be like, but once they were here they were delighted to see how well things have gone.

"There are a lot of happy memories here. The school has always had a family atmosphere.''

He said one woman had arranged a journey from her home in Australia to coincide with the event after seeing it advertised on the Internet.

Another former pupil had travelled from Donegal, in Ireland, while many others came from all over the country.

The photographs featuring pupils and events from past years will be on display for the rest of this week, with members of the public invited to view the exhibition between 9am and 9pm.

Mr Thornton said: "We will then take them down and keep them safe to be displayed in another ten years time."