HELPING to light the last Christmas tree to be put up at Oaken Grove Primary School in Haxby is York's director of education, Patrick Scott.

Mr Scott was invited to help the infant children switch on the lights by head teacher David Metcalfe, to mark the school's last Christmas before it closes in the summer.

Mr Metcalfe said the tree switch-on was part of a series of seasonal events planned for the school. This morning children were singing carols in the shopping precinct in Haxby and next week they will be performing in a Nativity play.

He said: "This is not only the last Christmas, but we're making it a very, very special time in school. We're doing many of the same things as other schools, but we're trying to give it a magical twist."

Oaken Grove will be closing due to falling rolls in the area and the children will be taking up places at the three other primary schools in Haxby and Wigginton.

Updated: 11:29 Saturday, December 08, 2001