MORE than 600 Bury youngsters will help re-create the Jacobite Rebellion: in song!

For they are to take part in a special musical production which will form the centrepiece of the annual Children of Bury Sing event in the spring.

Entitled Charlie, the musical will tell the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie who raised an army with the intention of marching to London to claim the throne.

The musical, which will feature 19 local primary schools throughout the borough, will be staged over two evenings at the Castle Leisure Centre in Bury on March 27 and 28.

Last year, Children of Bury Sing faced the possibility of being scrapped because of lack of funds. But thanks to the intervention of Donna Kiernan, head of Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in Brandlesholme, the annual event won vital cash support from North West Arts. Mrs Kiernan had approached Bury's two MPs David Chaytor and Ivan Lewis, who helped secure the funding.

Organising March's show is the Wigan-based Vivace Charitable Trust, a musical charity, which puts on school concerts throughout the North West. This year, Children of Bury Sing celebrates its seventh anniversary.

Mr George Kearton, of the trust, said: "A total of 19 schools will be involved in the Charlie musical. That is more than 600 pupils. We're delighted to be staging this brand new, original musical about Bonnie Prince Charlie, who recruited English Jacobites in Lancashire and Manchester to fight for him."

The primary school singers will be joined by soloists from St Gabriel's RC High School in Bury. The pupils will wear a mixture of Highland, Lancastrian and Hanoverian costumes to give the show an air of authenticity.

Mr Kearton said: "We've looked at a lot of children's musicals, but we've had difficulty in finding one that is appropriate. We thought the best way to get round this was to have one specially written."

Tickets will be available from the schools taking part.