INTERNATIONAL opera stars returned to their former school to help raise money to repair its chapel.

Kathleen Wilkinson and Sean Ruane, who have both gone on to perform internationally, delighted an audience at Blessed Trinity in Burnley during a special concert.

Sean attended the boys’ school St Theodore’s and Kathleen the girls’ school St Hilda’s before they merged to become Blessed Trinity.

Work has already been carried out on the chapel but the school is now aiming to raise nearly £60,000 to pay back a loan taken out to fund the work.

Headteacher Bernadette Bleasdale was delighted with the event.

She said: “It was fantastic evening, they were both wonderful.

“As well as being former pupils, Kathleen’s daughter also teaches at the school now.

“It was a very enjoyable evening and raised nearly £3,000.”

Supporting roles on the night came from pianist Gavin Bottacin and singers Megan Rawlinson and Ellenna Wilkinson, who are all pupils at the school.

Sean became a professional opera singer in 2001 and has since performed all over Europe, the United States, Russia, Australia and New Zealand.

Kathleen has had a long association with the Scottish Opera and has studied in Florence as well as performing throughout the country.