A BLACKBURN primary school came of age with a special service to celebrate 21 years "at the heart of the community".

A birthday assembly was held at St MIchael with St John primary school, in Barbara Castle Way.

The school has doubled in size since it was established in 1982.

The special assembly on the all-weather pitch, involving all 420 pupils and 62 staff, celebrated the school's heritage as pupils sang the school song and said traditional prayers.

Meanwhile the pupils themselves looked to the future with the display of a Book of Hope they had created, containing their thoughts and prayers for the decades to come.

The book was displayed in the school all day and parents, ex-pupils and former staff were welcomed to look around the building and see for themselves what had changed since the early days.

They were also told of more changes on the agenda.

Work is work is due to begin later this month on a new sports and arts centre to be used jointly by pupils and local residents.

Headteacher Kay Cant, the third leader of the school in that time, said: "The school has grown from seven classes to 14 during the last 21 years, which is probably the most noticeable difference.

"I think we've grown closer to the heart of the community and will continue to do so with the new facilities, which we expect to be finished by late November.

"About 60 per cent of all the staff who've worked here said they wanted to come back and see everyone.

"It's a great school to be at."