PUPILS past and present celebrated the 50th birthday of St Osmund's RC School with a bit of clowning around.

Performer Danny Zavareli entertained pupils and guests at the Blenheim Road school in Breightmet with a host of circus antics, including juggling, impersonations, magic tricks, balloon modelling and riding a 10ft unicycle.

More than 300 pupils and teachers, past and present packed into St Osmund's Church for the celebrations.

Headteacher John Thorpe said day was a great success. He added: "The children loved Danny Zavareli. It was a very appropriate way to celebrate the school's birthday. It is a tremendous achievement for something to have survived so long.

"In the last 50 years the school has gone from strength to strength."