CAERLEON Lodge Hill Junior and Infant schools celebrated their merger on Friday with an official opening ceremony, attended by West End star and former pupil Caroline Sheen.

Pupils held a 190-metre ribbon along a footpath between the two schools, which was cut by deputy mayor of Newport, Cliff Suller.

This was preceded by Welsh dancing by pupils and a performance of the song Tomorrow from Hansel and Gretel by Mrs Sheen.

The newly-formed Caerleon Lodge Hill Primary School will accommodate all 288 pupils across its two existing campuses, explained chair of the shadow governors Caroline McLachlan.

“All the children were fantastically behaved and sang a specially written school song by music director Carol Beagan.”