CHILDREN were treated to all the pomp and ceremony that comes with hosting a civic guest when the Mayor of Durham dropped in on lessons.

Durham County Council chairman John Robinson, The Right Worshipful Mayor of Durham, and his consort, wife Maxine, visited Sedgefield Hardwick Primary School in their full official regalia.

The visit was not only a special occasion for the youngsters but also for Cllr Robinson as it was a chance to enjoy his new role on home turf.

He represents the Sedgefield ward on the county council, is a town councillor and was himself a former pupil at the school.

During the visit, he presented a full assembly to teach children about the history and the role of the mayor and his bodyguard.

Headteacher Sally Newton said: “This is fantastic opportunity for the children to celebrate their heritage and the traditions of the City of Durham.

“We would like to thank the mayor for his contributions to making Sedgefield a vibrant and brilliant community.”

The Mayor also congratulated staff and pupils on their hard work and achieving outstanding results which places the school in the top 20 per cent of the country.

He said: “It was lovely to go into my home village, to share my role with local children and we’re more than happy to go to other schools so they can see what we do.”