A SPECIAL assembly helped children at Bookwell School to learn about the Queen's representative in Cumbria.

Cumbria's High Sheriff Richard Lee was welcomed into the school to teach pupils about his role and the history behind it.

He attended in court dress uniform and carried his ceremonial sword.

Headteacher at Bookwell, Russell Hardy said: "We were delighted to have the visit from the High Sheriff this week and would like to thank him for taking the time to visit our school.

"The children asked some excellent questions and were fascinated about the role and particularly if he had every used the sword!"

The Office of High Sheriff is the oldest secular office in the United Kingdom, after the Crown.

It dates from Saxon times when the 'Shire Reeve' was responsible to the king for the maintenance of law and order within the shire, or county, and for the collection of taxes due to the Crown.

Today, there are 55 High Sheriffs serving the counties of England and Wales each year.