A nursery school has been saying its goodbyes to one of its longest-serving teachers, fondly described as the 'Danish Mary Poppins'.

Children and staff at St Thomas Nursery in Oxford are bidding a tearful farewell to Sigrid Cooper, who is stepping down at the end of the month.

The 62-year-old has been a teacher at the school, in St Thomas Street, for 18 years.

Colleagues said she is much loved by children and staff for her hands-on approach, which sees her teaching young children woodwork and gardening - as well as taking them on adventure walks and doing many other arts and crafts.

Nursery manager Philippa Clitherow said: "Sigrid's just an incredibly enthusiastic, energetic person.

"She is simply irreplaceable and will be terribly missed by everyone.

"She's as well loved as Mary Poppins - but she's certainly not as whimsical.

"Perhaps she's a Danish version because she's very hands-on and gets the youngsters involved in woodwork and all sorts of creative arts.

"She's good fun and she's very inventive. The children just love her."

It is estimated she has taught around 500 children at the school, with every child leaving at age five receiving a woven cushion handmade by Mrs Cooper.

Mrs Cooper, who is originally from Honsnap in Denmark, moved to Didcot in the 1980s to be with her husband Bernard Cooper - currently the town's mayor.

She said: "I have been working all my life with children and I am going to miss them so much.

"During my time here, children have always needed the same things - time to play and have fun and, most importantly, to be made to feel special and loved."

Sigrid is leaving the school to go into semi-retirement and hopes to get a job as a gardener or florist closer to her home.

However, she still plans to pop in to the nursery from time to time to visit the children.