Budding actors from a Workington primary school had audiences begging for more with their stirring production of classic musical Oliver!

About 120 Key Stage Two pupils from St Patrick's Primary School, in Derwent Street, performed the play, based on Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist.

Youngsters had worked on the musical for just three weeks, with many putting extra hours in at home to learn lines and perfect scenes, before taking to the stage in front of more than 100 people.

Teacher Ashley Ryan said: "They were really good, enthusiastic and put a lot of work in to learn their parts.

"We do an annual school show led by Year Six and this one was excellent, they've outdone themselves.

"Our headteacher said it was hard to tell the difference between what they put on and the West End show.

"They really rose to the challenge."

"A couple of our actors do shows outside of school for amateur dramatic groups but for some of them it would have been their first time up there in front of an audience.

"Some of them are really talented so our intention is for some of them to look at carrying it on outside of school."