His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham, Sue Snowdon, visited The English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College to celebrate the planting of a tree.

The school community was invited to take part in the Queen's Green Canopy initiative whereby we were invited to plant a tree to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee.

Mrs Snowdon helped students plant the tree near the flagpole before spending a few moments reflecting on Her Majesty's reign.

A large platinum planter which commemorates the project will be placed in the main reception.

Mrs Crawshaw, headteacher of the large Hartlepool secondary school and sixth form college said: “We were overjoyed that Mrs Snowdon could visit us to plant the tree with our students'

"Our tree will be nurtured, and in the coming years, will flourish into a lasting memory of the late Queen for our community."