There were plenty of 'ooohs’ and 'aaahs’ when the Belmarsh prison dog display team wowed the crowds at Halfway Houses School’s summer fete.

The team of four handlers and three dogs from the prison put on an impressive display at the fete at the school in Southdown Road on Saturday.

Although usually more at home tracking down drugs and other illegal items, the dogs are so well trained the children were able to stroke them after the performance.

One of the organisers, Gary Carter, who is chairman of the school’s parent teacher association, said: “They really were good. They showed off the gun and stick commands where the dogs went flying off.

“It was amazing that the handlers could control them with just one word commands.”

Other entertainment included a performance by the HopScotch Dancers and the usual sideshows, plus the finals of the school’s five-a-side football competition, sponsored by Haymacks of Bobbing. The event made £2,800, of which approximately £1,800 is profit that will be used to pay for school trips, water for every classroom and other complementary education services.