AFTER 143 years service as the village school in Collingbourne Ducis, the Victorian building has been given a fitting send-off.

Next Monday the 99 children and staff led by head teacher Jeff Mason move into a plush £1.5 million new school across the fields from the old building.

On the last day before the half-term break they bade a fond farewell to the old school that had served generations of village families.

The old school bell was rung symbolically 143 times, once for every year the school had served the community.

The school had invited former pupils and staff to return for the nostalgic last day in the old building.

Everybody gathered around the bell tower at the south side of the building for a final and solemn ringing of the school bell.

Every pupil took their turn at ringing the bell, together with staff and old friends of the school. The bell was given its final ring at the old school by the oldest former pupil, 93- year-old Edna Shorter.

Just as at New Year people traditionally ring out the old and ring in the new, the bell that called generations of pupils to lessons has been moved to the new school.

There on Monday the youngest child in the school will ring it once to symbolise the first day and the first year in the new school.

Mr Mason and his staff have worked through the half term break to prepare the new building for occupation on Monday. The friends group, said Mr Mason, raised about £23,500 for new equipment.