A Maryport headteacher was given a 50th birthday to remember.

Ewanrigg Junior School threw a surprise party for Yvonne Craig last Thursday.

Children all came dressed in the leopard print for which Miss Craig is famous.

The whole school sang her favourite hymn, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, accompanied by teacher Nigel Hope on guitar.

They had created a This is Your Life DVD of photos of her life and her time at Ewanrigg.

Year six children wrote poems, including one by Tilly Joy which suggested that, although now 50, she was still pretty nifty.

The poem refers to her lack of cooking skills, her leopard prints and various other aspects of her life.

A special birthday flag was flown and a banner put on the gate.

Teaching assistant Dawn Wallace and teacher Eileen Jenkinson made leopard print cupcakes for everyone and Miss Craig was presented with a birthday cake.

She said she was “bowled over” by the surprise and had spent much of the day in tears.

She said: “I was here for my 40th birthday and now for my 50th. God and Ofsted willing, I will be here for my 60th too.”