A CHARITY auction helped raise more than £2,000 at the Alfriston School's 50th birthday celebration.

A CHARITY auction helped raise more than £2,000 at the Alfriston School's 50th birthday celebration.

Celebrities Victoria Beckham and Alan Shearer were among those whose signed photographs and books up for auction at the event held at the school in Penn Road, Beaconsfield, on Saturday.

Other activities included a tombola, face painting and the addition of more items to a time capsule which had been buried at the school three years ago.

Alfriston School was originally opened in 1907 as a private boys school called Norfolk House. When the school closed in 1949 the site was bought by Buckinghamshire County Council and on January 9, 1950, Knotty Green School for girls with learning difficulties was opened. The name was changed to Alfriston School in 1970.

Head Teacher Val Gordon said: 'The day was fabulous. Everything went really, really well. Some pupils came from when the school originally opened and there were some lovely reunions.'