TO end the first half of the autumn term, five to seven-year-old pupils at Longleaze School staged a spectacular Pirates' Parting Parade to mark the end of a geography project.

Teachers joined in the fun by dressing up and adopting nautical names.

The headteacher became Admiral Glenton, and her colleagues aboard included First Mate Milne, Long John Yeo, Captain Driscoll and Bosun Naish.

The younger pirates, armed to the teeth with cardboard cutlasses and other fearsome weapons, went in search of treasure islands and used their map-reading skills to discover the location of hidden hoards of gold.

The gold foil-covered chocolate was highly prized by the fortunate few who found it.

Winners included Lee Grace, Deshann Reeves, Rikki Price and Hannah Grosvenor.

The traditional pirate chorus: "Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum," was fulfilled when soft drinks were provided, and the pirates hungrily devoured weevil biscuits Garibaldis before returning to their dastardly deeds.

These included cheering as their victims walked the plank a precarious venture for very young pirates, but at least the ocean in Longleaze School hall was only in their imagination.

"It's been a lovely day. Every child has dressed up and everyone's had fun - indoors and in the playground," said headteacher Anne Glenton.