ALL 240 pupils from a Cookley primary school took part in an annual Easter bonnet parade led by a festively adorned donkey.

Jan Porter, administration officer at Cookley Sebright Primary School, explained that the pupils ranged from nursery age to 11.

She said: “It was lovely. It went really well and the weather was kind to us. The children love it and really enjoy wearing their bonnets.”

Mrs Porter said Tilly the donkey belonged to the parents of one of the pupils and always led the parade.

She added: “Everyone makes a fuss of the donkey. She’s lovely and very popular with the pupils.”

She explained that the bonnets were made by pupils both at school and at home and some of them were quite “striking”.

She said they created from materials such as paper, feathers, eggs and straw while green or yellow were the most popular colours.

Mrs Porter said: “They were all very colourful and it was a case of the brighter the better. Some were really extravagant.”

She explained that the parade made its way from the school to Drumart House, where the children met the elderly residents who lived in sheltered housing.

She added some villagers would come out of their homes to watch the parade before it ended at St Peter’s Church for the annual Easter service.

Mrs Porter said the parade was the final event of a trio of celebrations to mark Easter that included a nursery “toddle waddle” and a traditional egg rolling.

She said: “It’s part of a tradition now. We celebrate Easter in a big way and always have these three events.”