A POP Idol-style contest took centre stage at an East Lancashire school to sing out a serious message to pupils: Get a proper job.

The spitting image spectacular thrust a Pop Idol panel into the unfamiliar role of on-stage careers advisers.

Performer James Rushton said: "We try to take the boring bit out of lectures and inject some fun."

And as Gareth, Will and the infamous judging panel strutted their stuff at Hollins High School in Accrington, pupil Lizzie Turner, 15, said: "I like Will best, but I don't want a career as a pop idol. I want to be a teacher."

Meanwhile, Jessica Eastham, 14, and Stephen Windle, 15, said they also preferred Will - "but I like both of them really," said Jessica.

Both want to follow their pop favourites on to the stage in their future careers, but as serious thespians.

The event, organised by the Preston-based Learning and Skills Council, was aimed at bringing information about career options to life.

Executive director Steve Palmer said; "At this stage in a young person's life it's vital that information about all the options available to them is conveyed in a way they can relate to.

"This is a unique way of delivering these important message to pupils in school."

Actors from Huddersfield-based schools theatre group CragRats put the workaday message over using a combination of music, dance and drama.

"If you're getting over a message about modern apprenticeships, you have to talk their language, " said company member Richard Ross, before transforming himself into feared Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell.