Primary school children are asking the local community to join them in their "action for peace".

Marwood CE Infant School in Great Ayton has previously donated care packages for Afghanistan refugees, spread "posters of hope" around the village during Covid, and most recently coordinated seven vans of donations for Ukraine.

Pupils were delighted that Archbishop of York Stephen Cotterill joined them at the school in painting portraits on stones for a peace display.

It has been placed at the war memorial at Christ Church, Great Ayton, and is based on the words of the song "Let there be peace on Earth… and let it begin with me".

Darlington and Stockton Times: Painted stones from Marwood Infant School on the war memorial

The central stone has been decorated by the chair of governors, Vicky Bradley, and on its Facebook page the school has urged people to add to the display by decorating a stone with a message of peace, or a self-portrait.

Darlington and Stockton Times: The Archbishop of York with his painted stone at Marwood Infant School

One year two pupil said: “It makes me feel warm inside that we are spreading our message of peace.”

Headteacher Dorothy Walton said: “I am so proud of our children for starting this action for peace. We are all looking forward to seeing the community coming together to make the display grow as a powerful message to love and support each other. As Rosa Parks said, 'it takes just one person to change the world'.”