The year 2000 was when the infamous Millennium bug was expected to cause chaos all over the world as the dates on computers reset on the 1 January 2000 but fortunately the predicted crisis failed to materialise and the world’s computers didn’t go into meltdown.

The Women’s Institute caused a stir when they slow handclapped Tony Blair at their Annual General Meeting in London.

It was also the year that London’s Millennium Dome opened to the public and despite being a popular tourist attraction the exhibition only lasted for a year and the Dome became the 02 Arena in 2007.

2001 did bring chaos – at least to our county – as the foot and mouth epidemic devastated the Cumbrian farming industry.

There was something to cheer about in 2002 though when the Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee. The UK also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the UK singles chart. After the Popstars phenomenon of the previous year, the UK became obsessed with talent show winners and the new show Pop Idol became a huge success.

We’ve been looking back through our files to see what was happening in the early 2000s at Ullswater Community College in Penrith. The college was formed under the name of Ullswater High School in 1980, when Tynefield (girls) and Ullswater (boys) secondary modern schools merged.

Ullswater draws more than 1400 pupils from one of the biggest catchment areas in England.

Ullswater pupils were busy with all kinds of activities during the late 1990s and early 2000s - raising money for charity, holding open days, welcoming guests into college.

And our photographers were there to record the memorable occasions including the last day for sixth formers; outdoor conservation projects and healthy eating weeks.