A TRADITIONAL day of fancy dress saw convicts, salt and pepper pots, Rasputin and the Statue of Liberty head to classes for the final time.

Upper sixth formers at Colchester County High School for Girls have been marking their last day at the school before their exams with fancy dress for more than 20 years, and this year was no exception.

Costumes also included superheroes, Grecian statues, pirates, doormen, builders, cavewomen and the emergency services.

Theresa Fox, head of careers at the Norman Way school, said dressing up was part of the big farewell before the girls headed off on study leave ahead of their A-level exams.

"It's a way of celebrating coming to the end of their time at the school but it is a very emotional day," she said.

"There is excitement because they are going on to the next stage of their lives, there is sadness at leaving friends and tension because their exams are about to start."

Mrs Fox said this year's costumes had been "spectacular" and a great deal of effort had clearly gone in to putting them together.

See all the pictures in the Gazette and buy them online here!