LITTLE ones sported caps and gowns for their Southampton pre-school's graduation ceremony.

Youngsters at the Cooperative Childcare Day Nursery and Pre School in Shirley Warren waved goodbye to teachers and classmates at the jubilant event.

The 32 leavers gathered in front of their classmates, parents and staff to receive certificates before gathering on the steps for a photograph and each youngster releasing pink and white helium balloons.

They were rewarded with cakes and drinks at a ceremony afterwards.

Pre-school deputy manager Alex Chalk wished the youngsters well at their primary schools and said: "Their learning and development has come on in leaps and bounds and having this social interaction at pre school has got them used to developing their social life before they go to primary school."