A recently retired Fleetwood headteacher, who spent more than 30 years in the profession, has collected a lifetime achievement award for her work.

Margaret Lund, who retired from Shakespeare Primary school, Manor Road, in June, was given the Ted Wragg Award for Lifetime Achievement by actor Jeremy Irons at London Palladium.

To add to her evening, Fleetwood opera Alfie Boe, who was brought up close to the school, serenaded Mrs Lund with a version of Nessun Dorma.

Many colleagues, both past and present, travelled to London to support her.

Mrs Lund received a gold plato in front of a 2,000-strong audience.

She said: “Thank you to everybody at the teaching awards, it is a huge honour.

“It’s quite incredible. There are hundreds of thousands of other teachers all over the country and I have just been doing my bit to try and give children the best chance in life.”

An extract from her nomination for the award reads: “Margaret built confidence and self-esteem among pupils by encouraging participation in the arts, and through sporting achievement.

“Shakespeare has a school choir, including the Opera Babies group who can sing in perfect Italian and every child is taught a musical instrument from the age of four.

“Under Margaret’s leadership, the school became one of top ten per cent of schools in the country in Key Stage 2 SATS, and it has achieved many awards.

“Her leadership was proof that it is possible to deliver breadth, balance and quality across the curriculum without creating innovation overload, or sacrificing standards.”