STAFF and pupils at a Newport school bade a fond farewell to their Victorian school buildings this week as they prepare for the start of a new era.

Feelings of excitement mingled with sadness as Glan Usk Primary School pupils spent their last day at their Durham Road site on Tuesday before they move to their new purpose-built home.

The new school is a long awaited replacement for crumbling buildings, which were declared unfit for purpose more than 10 years ago.

More than 1,150 crates of equipment were moved to the new school over the weekend and pupils spent Monday and Tuesday doing Christmas-themed activities.

Deputy head, Catherine Place said: "I think it's a mixture of feelings to be honest. We are really excited to move as we've been waiting for this building for so long and in a way we didn't think it would happen.

"Some of the teachers have been here for 20 or 25 years.

“There are a lot of memories in the school, which we will be taking with us. We're still Glan Usk School."

Pupils will have an extra few days holiday, as staff continue to move things to the new school. The new Glan Usk School will open for lessons on January 5.