The school's 60 pupils, along with local people, planted a kaki tree, also known as a persimmon tree.

The tree was grown from a seed originating in a handful of kaki trees which survived the devastating atomic bomb in Nagasaki in 1945.

The whole school has been studying the fascinating origin of the tree with the little ones producing a booklet about how to care for it.

The older pupils have studied the Second World War and the devastation caused by the dropping of the bomb by the US military.

The blast killed an estimated 80,000 people, many of whom died in the months that followed from burns, radiation sickness and other injuries, compounded by illness. The youngsters wrote Japanese poems which were read out in assembly and then hung on a peace tree at school, together with origami lucky stars they had made.

Then, members of the local community, teachers and the children all helped plant the tree, each throwing earth into the hole around it.

Whitby Community Choir entertained everyone and the pupils danced along to their performance.

Deb Gillanders, who helped organise the tree planting event, also brought along persimmon fruit, also known as Sharon fruit, for the children to eat during the ceremony.

Deputy headteacher of Fylingdales School, Jean Hutt, said: "It was a lovely day.

"The weather just about held out for us, it was cold but sunny.

"The children did some beautiful work and the choir were fabulous.

"The children were dancing along to what they were doing."

In 10 years' time, it is hoped a harvest event will be held when the tree will bear fruit as a celebration for those who have participated in raising the tree.

The kaki tree planting was rounded off in a separate event when Whitby poet and schoolteacher Chris Firth ran a poetry workshop at Fylingthorpe Village Hall and during the afternoon, Henwen and the Salam UK Band performed in a concert.

Ms Gillanders thanked George and Sandy Knight who collected the kaki tree from Huddersfield, First Season in Whitby who supplied Japanese tea at the concert and Muir Lea Stores who donated money for the compost to plant the tree in.