PRIMARY school pupils were all smiles after enjoying a weekly game of bingo with their new mascot.

A much-loved flamingo is the latest initiative in Harwich Primary School which aims to encourage pupils' high performance.

Back in 2019, the school introduced Attendance Ted, whose main responsibility is to pay a weekly visit to the class which has recorded the best attendance.

He then awards the pupils with a smaller mascot of himself, and the class gets the chance to keep it for the upcoming seven days.

As a further incentive for high attendance, the winning class of little Ted now gets to play bingo on a Wednesday lunchtime with Mrs Gillian Day dressed as a Flamingo.

Mrs Day, who is the attendance and welfare officer at the school, said: "All the children get very excited when they see Ted around school and some of the funny things that Ted sometimes gets up to.

"I am happy to dress up and play bingo with the children as an extra reward for high attendance.

"A high profile is given to promote and reward high attendance at Harwich Primary and any additional incentive to keep it at high is crucial for children to achieve a good education".