All familiar sights and sounds to the 240 pupils who entered The Deepings School when it first opened its doors in 1958.

But this week, a few of the first faces to enter the secondary school, in the market town near Peterborough, returned to mark its 50th anniversary year.

With every step they took around the school, the group, now all in their 60s, learned how the building had transformed itself to cater for the current roll of 1,400 pupils.

Now it is the whirring sound of computers booting up, coupled with the frantic squeak of pen on whiteboard, which reverberate around the school's corridors.

Headteacher Chris Beckett had invited former pupils to take a look around the building and reminisce about the school's opening years.

Eleanor Green (64), nee Sharpe, was made one of the school's first prefects on her second day there.

The grandmother of two, who still lives in nearby Deeping St James, said it was a lovely opportunity to see how school-life had transformed.

She added: "I am really proud to say I went to The Deepings School.

"I think it's great, even though I was only here for six or so months.

"My daughter also went to the school and my two grandsons are in class now, so our family must be one of the few to have had three generations here.

"It's just the size of the place which has changed so much. It really is staggering how much equipment they have in school these days."

Even though the school opened on September 9, Mr Beckett wanted to give the school's first pupils the chance to look around before the autumn celebrations kick off.

One popular commemorative opportunity is the option to own a special plaque which will have the former pupil's name and school year details etched on it.

They will then be covered in a perspex screen and put up around the school.

There will also be a '50s-style non uniform day for current pupils, and a church concert.

Others at the reunion were Ken Howes (64), from Deeping St James; Marion Crowson (62), from Barnack, near Peterborough; Margaret Flegg (63), from Deeping St James and Gillian Berry (63), who now lives in Yarwell, near Peterborough.

Former head prefect Mrs Crowson said: "I remember we used to go on school trips with just two teachers to look after us, not like now, where it's one parent for two pupils.

"We went to Snowdonia in Wales and the Black Forest, in Germany.

"It was great fun."