LEESON House field studies centre celebrated its 50th anniversary with youngsters from across Dorset and tutors past and present.

Local residents and schoolchildren from across the county were invited to the celebrations, which were also attended by Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell.

The Dorset County Council-owned centre at Langton Matravers has been providing field study trips for children since 1967.

And on Wednesday, Leeson House hosted a special day of celebration where people had the chance to share their memories of times at the centre.

Leeson House manager Mike Gould told the Daily Echo: "We had around 130 children from six Dorset schools and did a whole range of activities, such as pond dipping, orienteering, team games, mini-beasts and a geology workshop.

"Then we had a big old buffet on the front lawn, despite it being a bit drizzly. then we had speeches and took our 50th anniversary photo.

"All the children went home with a party bag, it was a lovely day."

Set in eight acres of grounds close to the Jurassic Coast, the centre has proved instrumental in introducing youngsters to nature, geography and geology.

It attracts students, up to and including A-level candidates, from across the UK and Europe.

In the run-up to its 50th anniversary, past students of Leeson House shared memories of time spent there.

Rhiannon Rogers, who now works for Dorset Environmental Records Centre, said: "I remember a Lord Digby's Grammar School geography field trip week in the 1980s, and our course leader singing Barry Manilow's 'Oh Mandy' in the classroom.

"He was young and enthusiastic, I recall much of what we learned about coastal geography."

Karen Samways, who works at Dorset County Council, recalled: "I too remember Leeson House, I stayed in room seven. We did sneak food into the room, but our chemistry teacher overlooked it after one of our friends was hungry and didn't like the food.

"Someone from another room got dared to go out on the fire escape at 3am, which set the alarms going. They didn't have time to get back to their dorm so we had to hide several others in our room. Amazing experience which I shall never forget."

Originally a manor house, the building has a long connection with children - having been a boarding school from 1903 to 1967.

However, during the Second World War the school was temporarily closed to be used as a radar research facility.