SEDBERGH School began taking girls for the first time in its 476-year history yesterday (Thursday).

Forty girls joined the sixth and third forms, and the school, which has produced more than 30 international rugby players, will be completely

co-educational within four years.

Head teacher Christopher Hirst, whose wife Sara is senior mistress, said the idea had been mooted for "20-odd years".

"Frankly it has just been accepted by everyone", he told The Westmorland Gazette.

Mr Hirst said the 400-pupil school, famous for its 10-mile Wilson Run, could have continued as it was, but everyone viewed the move as progression.

"We have to respond to the needs of the 21st century family, which undoubtedly looks for siblings to go to school together.

We are overjoyed to welcome so many girls to the school."

Lupton House, in the centre of Sedbergh, has been refurbished as a girls' house and a new all-weather surface pitch has been laid.

As more girls come, a second girls' house may be built.

Meanwhile, a new house for boys joining Windermere St Anne's School opened yesterday.

Following the school's decision to go co-educational in 1999, the school authorities decided to build a 43-bed boys' dormitory house in a garden next to the A592 boundary.