MORE than 300 children from schools all over the diocese of Hereford took part in a special service at St Laurence's Church in Ludlow to mark their move to secondary school and to say goodbye to the Bishop of Hereford, John Oliver.

The service on July 10 included contributions from children as Year 6 pupils marking the end of the era as primary school pupils.

The service was attended by the bishop and civic dignitaries from Shropshire.

"We wanted our children to remember their days at primary school with something special," said Ian Terry, diocesan director of education. "It's a big move, a change in children's lives which this year coincides with a big change in the life of the diocese."

The diocese of Hereford is responsible for more than 50 per cent of the primary schools in Herefordshire and south Shropshire. Day-to-day support is given but communal events are also organised in a bid to give children from village schools a chance to be involved in something bigger than normally provided.

"As children move on to become the youngest in a much larger school, it is important to get some experience of the bigger picture," Ian Terry added. "This special service was one of those occasions."

The Bishop of Hereford is president of the Diocesan Board of Education. He is due to retire later this year.

Among those that took part were Ashford Carbonell, Bitterley, Corvedale, Caynham, Ludlow St Laurence and Onny schools.