FORMER schoolmates Anne-Marie Francis and Katherine Marriott have gone back to school together -- to launch their very own 'Fame' Academy.

Nearly 20 years after they both attended St Peter's Primary School in Newchurch, Rossendale, Anne-Marie Francis and Katherine Marriott have opened a school for wannabe actors and dancers.

The Performance Academy opened for business this week offering classes in dance and drama -- just like the BBC show Fame Academy.

Anne-Marie, 30, a professional actress and drama teacher, and 26-year-old Katherine, took their first class at their base in Heathland, Sandy Lane, Accrington.

"I had been teaching at a school in the Rossendale Valley and decided to leave, and Anne-Marie heard I was leaving and asked me if I fancied doing something different," said Katherine. "I thought let's give it a go and see if we can find some premises," said Anne-Marie.

"There isn't anyone doing drama and dance under the same roof and we thought there was a gap in the market. If you are thinking about going into the business you need a professional approach. It's not the 15 minutes of fame, it's a serious approach.

"We will prepare people for exams but the ethos of the school is enjoying the lessons and having a professional approach."

At the end of every term, students will put on a production to show off their talents, and there are plans for an outdoor performance of a Shakespeare in the summer, and 10-day summer schools with a production at the end.

At an open day last week more than 20 people enrolled for dance classes, and 12 students joined the drama classes.

"It was really exciting. We didn't know what to expect but everyone who came to talk to us joined up," said Katherine, who has danced at Manchester's Palace Theatre.

"We started yesterday and we had a really good response and people were still turning up wanting to join.

Anne-Marie is no stranger to public ity, When she married Archers star Marc Finn -- who plays gamekeeper Greg Turner in the classic radio favourite -- in 1999, the ceremony was featured in Hello magazine.

She has also starred in television commercials, and more recently in a film about to be premiered, Anita and Me, and will shortly audition for parts in Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.

"I'm really looking forward to grooming the stars of the future," she said.

"Anne-Marie is four years older than me but apparently she used to look after me in the playground. We have kept in touch on and off over the year and our families are friends," said Katherine.

After teaching in Birmingham Anne-Marie moved back to her native Lancashire. "Work was coming in but I still wanted to do do my teaching," she said: "I met Katherine again in my mum's kitchen because she had kept in touch with my sister."

For more information about classes call 07816 381270.