YOUNGSTERS from a Lowton primary school became stars of the stage for a day when they performed Shakespeare's Macbeth to packed audiences - including a BBC playwright.

The Year Six pupils at St Catherine's donned elaborate costumes and professional microphone headsets for the play, which was produced as part of the BBC's educational plays for schools.

Its writer Neil Richard even travelled to the Cranham Avenue school to see one of the three performances by the class, aged 10 and 11 years-old.

The children have been working hard over the last few months to produce the play, which took in all aspects of the National Curriculum, with the help of teachers Catherine Littlewood and Wendy Valentine.

They helped to compose songs for the production, choreographed scenes, designed and made their own costumes and even painted the sets and artwork for the play. All between rehearsals to remember their lines.

Parent helpers were also involved in the play, and even stepped in to perform small acting roles and also helped behind the scenes.

Parents, friends and pupils from sister school St Luke's were all invited to the shows.

St Catherine's head Elizabeth Connolly said: "It was fantastic. The children really enjoyed all the work that went into the play, and the performances were brilliant.

"It was really professional, and Mr Richard was suitably impressed. It's been one of the highlights of the school year."