YOUNGSTERS between four and 15, who attend a weekly Arabic school in Darwen, celebrated the start of a new year with a party at Darwen Vale High School (see picture).

They played games, took part in a quiz about Arabic culture and ate party food.

Moorland High pupil Dana Al-Jundi played Arabic music on her flute.

The Arabic school was set up six years ago for children of any culture and is partly funded by Blackburn with Darwen Council's ethnic minority grant and partly through membership fees.

There are currently 65 pupils attending the three- hour Saturday sessions.