YOUNG people at Rivington and Blackrod High School threw a Christmas party for the community.

Residents of local care homes and members of community groups including those at St Catherine’s Care Home, Hazelbrook Nursing Home and Horwich Resource Centre, were invited to celebrate the festive season with homemade Christmas food and performances by the music and performing arts departments.

The event was supported by Horwich Rotary Club, which donated funds.

The Christmas party is to bring the community in school and designed to foster strong links across the generations.

Pupils prepared and served the food, decorating the hall, and providing drama and musical performances.

Sing-a-long carols were performed for the guests.

Guests were also given a gift that was hand delivered by Santa Claus and his student helpers.

Tony Purcell, headteacher, said: “The Community Christmas Party is a pleasure to host.

"It provides an excellent opportunity for our school to reach out to our local community and we thoroughly enjoy having all of our guests come into school.

"Our students and staff work tirelessly to make the event a success and we must thank everybody who makes this event possible.

"Thank you also to Horwich Rotary Club for helping us to fund this event and our guests for attending.”