Memories were shared when a community came together to celebrate the 150th anniversary of a school that has seen generations of villagers pass through its doors.

Symondsbury School opened its doors to pupils past and present on Friday in a huge celebration of the major milestone.

The school's 111 current students pulled out all the stops to make sure the event was special, creating art, poems, a history booklet and 'living museum' displays in each classroom.

The morning church service included the the school's 150th anniversary song, with lyrics penned by Martin Maudesley following workshops with the children and with music composed local musician Matt Kingston. The song was performed by the whole school, with Year 6 pupils providing harmonies.

The service also included performances and readings from each class group, and was followed by the Rev'd Chris Grasske blessing the school with holy water.

Parents and former past pupils were then invited to the living museum, which took them back in time to 1868 when the school very first opened.

In the afternoon, parents of current pupils joined the children in a birthday party on the field. Refreshments and party food were served to all by the school Governors and they also gave out awards to the children who had most impressed with their contribution to the living museum displays.

Pupil Freddie, 10, said: “This is a really good school –it’s very good at teaching you. We have been learning a lot about the Victorians for today.”

Nine-year-old Henry and Alex, 11, said: “We have learnt that the school has changed a lot. But it is an amazing school and we’re like a big family here.

During the course of the day, 60 former pupils, teachers and village residents visited the school and more than 100 people visited the museum. The school launched its new history book and a range of cards created by the children and received many donations made by visitors to the new Symondsbury School Fund - a registered charity to support the school's enrichment activities.

Chairman of governors, George Streatfield, said the day was 'really special.'

"We are here to celebrate that our school is an exemplary local village school which creates local pride and buy-in to its heritage and to its future," he said.

Vice-chairman of governors and chairman of the group organising the 150th celebrations, Alexandra O'Dwyer, said: "We would really like to extend an enormous thank you to all the local businesses and individuals who have so far supported our anniversary celebrations in a range of ways, including Denhay Farms, Creeds, Morrisons, Symondsbury Estates, Groves, The Bookshop of South Street and Frampton's removals. There are many others who regularly offer help and donations to our work and we are so hugely grateful. I'd also like to say a big thank you to the many villagers in Symondsbury who baked delicious cakes for us."

Speaking about what makes the school special, headteacher Emma Roberts said: "This is a real family school that integrates into the village."