A PILGRIMAGE to St Peter's Cathedral in Lancaster helped primary school pupils celebrate the year of mercy.

Year six students at St Bridget's Catholic Primary School were invited by the Diocese of Lancaster to take part in the pilgrimage, which involved a walking tour of Lancaster.

The year of mercy, which started in December 2015 and runs until November this year, is a time for Catholics to show mercy and compassion. This involves focusing on forgiveness and doing good.

"Year six joined a number of other West Cumbrian Catholic primary schools for a walking tour of Lancaster, finishing with collective worship in St. Peter's Cathedral," said headteacher Suzanne Smith. "Even though it was a wet day the children thoroughly enjoyed it."

The cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Lancaster and is home to Catholics living between Preston and Carlisle.

"We had a really good day. I enjoyed walking around Lancaster. I especially liked the courtroom in the old prison," said pupil David McAllister.

And Liam Guilfoyle said: "I enjoyed stopping at landmarks in Lancaster and singing. We learned about how to help people in developing countries from speakers from CAFOD."

The school also held a harvest service at St Mary's church, which was linked to the students religious education studies. This included collecting food to donate to the foodbank.

North Lakes Foodbank feeds around 500 people a month in short term crisis, within Copeland and Allerdale. It collects food from supermarkets, churches, schools and community groups.