A SCHOOL opened its doors to generations of former pupils last weekend to celebrate an education milestone.

More than 200 visitors descended on Wade Deacon High School on Saturday to commemorate 500 years of education in the town.

Head teacher Pam Wright said: "This was marvellous opportunity for people to indulge in a little nostalgia as well celebrating the history of the oldest foundation school in the north west of England."

Among the activities on show was a collection of nostalgic photographs, musical performances by current pupils and tours of the school, in Birchfield Road, Widnes.

Former pupil Simon Connor, who left the school in 1972, said: "It is hard to imagine the rooms as they were Seeing all the technology now installed brings a sense that education must now be a great deal more interesting and even fun."

The festivities also ran to St Luke's Church, in Pit Lane, Farnworth, which held an open day on Saturday before staging a thanksgiving service on Sunday.

Church warden Barry Horabin said: "It was absolutely fantastic. Everyone had a great time and we had a lot of new faces come to the church.

"The church was packed out on Sunday. There was just under 400 inside and many of the schools in Widnes were represented."

Wade Deacon's history can be traced back to the endowment of Farnworth Grammar School by the Bishop of Lincoln, William Smythe in 1507.

After moving to several locations, the school, which was named Wade Deacon Grammar School after famed industrialist Sir Henry Wade Deacon, finally settled on the Birchfield Road site in 1931.