TWO schools celebrated their 50th birthday with a very special guest - a bishop.

The Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Rev Stephen Platten, came along in his full regalia for the anniversaries of Bradley C of E Junior and Infant and Nursery schools.

Hundreds of children gave him a rousing welcome.

The bishop spoke at a service which included junior school children singing the hymn O Praise Ye The Lord, which was sung at the opening on September 17, 1956.

He told them it was important that throughout their adult life they kept their child-like qualities.

The bishop added: "Young people are very good at being surprised.

"Life is full of wonder for you when you see things that are exciting or interesting. But as we get older those child-like qualities tend to disappear and we forget the wonderment we once felt.

"When you get older try to keep hold of the things you felt as a child. Don't lose the excitement you now feel."

Adele Stringer, the head of the junior school said: It was a lovely open-air service - and thank goodness the weather held up.

"All the children sat and listened very well to what the bishop had to say."

The event for the 430 pupils - 200 juniors, 180 infants and 50 nursery children - was held as contractors prepare to move on to the school sites in the autumn to start a major £1m refurbishment.

The two schools - built on a six-acre site on the Bradley estate at a cost of £100,000 - started out as one school, catering for nearly 600 infant and junior children.

Canon David Ward, Vicar of St Thomas's Church at Bradley, and a governor of both schools, led the service and spoke about the history and past of the school.

The infant and nursery school head, Zoe Whitworth, gave a talk about the present and Adele Stringer spoke about the exciting future for both schools.

Also taking part were the junior school steel band and the infants' gospel choir.

Parties and a pantomime are planned for later this month as part of the anniversary celebrations

Ceramic designer Jenny Hinchliffe has created a commemorative bone china mug. They are to be presented to pupils in September.