YOUNGSTERS at a special needs school in Darlington took their hats off to the Mayor this week.

The children, who had seen the Mayor of Darlington, Coun Isobel Hartley, during a visit to their school before Christmas, had been intrigued by her hat and had asked to try it on.

So popular was the hat that the Mayor and the head teacher, Dame Dela Smith, decided to organise a proper dressing-up day.

On Wednesday, the dream came true for the excited youngsters, when they were given a dozen hats to play with and decorate, courtesy of the Mayor's Charity Shop in Duke Street.

Manageress of the shop, Jessie Allen, together with several other volunteers, went along to help the children decorate the hats with artificial flowers and ribbons and gave a few tips on how to wear them.

Coun Hartley also took along a couple of her own hats for the children to try on.

She told the D&S Times: "The idea sparked from a visit to the school where the children were very keen to try on my hat.

"During the visit, Dame Dela and I got on to talking about hats as she was getting organised for her presentation at Buckingham Palace.

"The idea to have a special hat day just came from that conversation. Thanks to the ladies at the Mayor's Charity Shop, the day was able to go ahead."

The Mayor, who confesses to wearing hats only when she is having a bad hair day, claims she has only six hats for use at public functions.

"I know it seems like I have more," she said, "but I just dress them up with accessories to make them look different."