Primary school pupils gave their teacher a surprise of a lifetime by taking part in a flash mob dance routine.

Year Six teacher Laura Ward, who is leaving Howbridge Junior School in Howbridge Road, Witham after nine years, couldn’t have been more shocked when she rang the whistle to signal the end of break time at 10.55am on Thursday.

Instead of the 350 children stopping and walking into lines as per usual, Mark Ronson’s hit song Uptown Funk played from huge speakers placed near the school’s windows and they broke into a choreographed dance routine.

Acting deputy headteacher Damon Howlett said the whole school wanted to do something special to mark Ms Ward’s last few days.

He said: “She is a very important part of the school.

“A few weeks ago, in passing, she mentioned how it has been a dream of hers to see a flash mob - it’s on her bucket list.

“We got talking in the staff room and thought ‘why don’t we give it a go with the children?’"

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.