PUPILS and dignitaries welcomed 13 newcomers from two continents in a citizenship ceremony held at a Darlington school.

The new British citizens swore an oath of allegiance in front of Darlington’s mayor, Councillor Ian Haszeldine, and the High Sheriff of County Durham, Alasdair MacConachie, at Darlington Education Village yesterday.

The ceremony was Mr MacConachie’s first as High Sheriff and Coun Haszeldine’s last as mayor.

Also in attendance were Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and leisure, Councillor Andy Scott, chief executive Ada Burns and Education Village principal Dame Dela Smith.

Entertainment was provided by the school choir, musicians and cheerleaders.

Darlington’s newest citizens, who are from Bangladesh, Taiwan, India, China, Zambia and Iraq are: Syeda Rubina Akther, Yu-Ping Kang-Scarth, Kavitaben Chandrakant Patel, Ali Hussain, Anees Kousar Saleem, Kam Tai Ma, Prem Anand Sinha, Li He Manna Begum, Marjorie McElvaney, Dhiraj Solmon Dhilpe, Omar Sabah Shukib and Jaynul Khan.

Coun Haszeldine said: “It was a wonderful event which I was very proud to attend. The school did a superb job of hosting the ceremony.”

A spokeswoman for school said: “The Education Village is delighted to host such a prestigious event.”