IT’S not too often that you see a van being blessed by a priest, but then this was no ordinary van.

The picture was taken in 1978. and shows Father William Doran, Chaplain of Mount St Joseph School, Bolton, blessing the school's new minibus.

The caption said: “Pupils of the Girls Roman Catholic school raised £2,000 towards the cost of the vehicle with discos and sponsored events.

“Its first trip will take pupils to Yorkshire where they will walk along the Cleveland Way.”