SILENCE reigned as the stars of a very special Jubilee production took to the stage.

After seven weeks of rehearsal more than 90 pupils from St Anne's and St Joseph's RC Primary School, Accrington, including 20 in the choir, had the first of two dress rehearsals for their re-enactment of the Queen's Coronation.

Watched by the rest of the school, in Sandy Lane, the youngsters performed Television In Our Street, a short play set in 1952 about a group of children who plan to raise money to buy a television set so the whole street can watch the Coronation.

Then it was straight into the main event -- a recreation of the procession of Her Majesty Princess Elizabeth into Westminster Abbey, to pledge her service to her people as Queen.

More than 40 costumes have been specially made by nursery nurse Jean Warburton, helped by parents, and the regalia -- orb, sceptre, rod, and sword -- were designed and made by headteacher Mark Dixon's father. The throne was made by one of the parents, based on a photograph of the original.

Preparation for the 40-minute production has been overseen by Winifred Holden, the school's history co-ordinator.

"We have had lots of people who have helped and donated things -- every single day something new has come in," she said.

"The children are extremely excited, they are at fever pitch."

The school even went as far as inviting the Queen to one of four performances of the production at the school next week.

A reply from Buckingham Palace said: "As you can imagine many more invitations have been received for Golden Jubilee year than can possibly be accepted and it's clear that it will not be practicable to include St Anne's and St Joseph's in Her Majesty's itinerary. But I hope nevertheless that the celebrations are enjoyable for both the children and their families."

The children will put on two performances for parents, on Monday and Tuesday nights, one on Tuesday afternoon for the elderly of the parish, and one on Wednesday morning for their fellow pupils.

Headteacher Mark Dixon said: "Part of the idea was to create moments in the children's lives and this is a big moment that they will remember."

The production has brought together pupils, staff, parents, and members of the public who have donated artefacts for a temporary museum set up in the school to aid the children's learning.