A NEWLY-BUILT school is preparing to celebrate its first Christmas - and pupils chose the tree they want to be the centrepiece for celebrations.

Five youngsters from Alderman Leach Primary School in Darlington went to Elm Ridge in the town to select a tree for their school's first festive season.

The children, who were chosen as the winners of an in-school Christmas tree designing competition, braved the cold to pick out an 8ft fir tree.

They will help to decorate it later this week.

Alderman Leach Primary School's £2.7m building was opened on the West Park site in February, after the school was moved from a site in Leach Grove in Darlington.

Staff said everyone was determined to ensure their first Christmas was memorable.

Teacher Janet Jones said: "As it's our first Christmas in the new school, we wanted to do something a bit different.

"It's a massive tree and we've only got one male member of staff at the school, so thankfully some builders working nearby are going to help us put it up.

"The children were all really excited about choosing the tree, and they will be able to help decorate it too."