ANIMAL actors took to the stage with youngsters at Bury Catholic Prep School for a "truly scrumptious" performance.

A cast of more than 90 children and three dogs -- all shih-tzus -- staged a production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for parents and friends of the Manchester Road school.

Pupils were involved in every aspect of the show, from stage design and costume making to drawing-up the programmes.

The school also held a competition to design an advertisement poster, with the winning entry supplied by eight-year-old Rebecca Hilton.

Three performances were held last week, with secret special effects employed to give the impression of a flying car!

Head teacher Mrs Anne Dean said: "The motto never to work with children and animals certainly didn't hold true. The children were wonderful and had a great time doing it, and the dogs were perfectly behaved."