An Egremont school has marked the start of its 140th birthday celebrations with a Victorian costumed themed event for Christmas.

Bookwell primary school held the Victorian carol service at St Michael and Mary’s Church in Egremont, where the whole school dressed in Victorian costume.

Headteacher Russell Hardy said the carol service was the perfect opportunity to begin birthday celebrations.

He said: "As the school is marking their 140th birthday next year, the carol service was the perfect opportunity to start the celebrations."

Children dressed as Victorians to highlight their Victorian history.

He explained that during the singing, the carols moved from the Victorian era to the 21st century, allowing parents to see the service evolve into a modern celebration of this Christmas season.

"For 140 years the traditional Christmas story has been shared with the tens of thousands of children who have been educated at Bookwell", Russell added.

Pupil Gracie Hurst, year 6 said: "It was good fun to dress up as a Victorian maid for church but strange to think children my age dressed like that and would have had to work."

A variety of events will be held at the school over the next year to celebrate the birthday year.

Mr Hardy said: "We will also be inviting past pupils to an open evening to look back and celebrate the history of the oldest school in the town.

"Bookwell has always been at the heart of the community, our continued success was recently recognised by the Sunday Times newspaper, when they placed Bookwell 18th in the top 250 performing schools in England," he added.