ALL creatures great and small took centre stage at a Hampshire primary school, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a children's classic.

Pupils from The King's Primary School, West End, put on a show-stopping version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, together with a pre-performance warm-up of songs in Animal Antics.

All 133 pupils at the school were involved in the three-day sell-out production, held at the Quob Lane school, to mark half-a-century of reading pleasure given by the CS Lewis classic.

Outfits, makeup and masks were made by the children themselves. The infants' wing of the school put on a host of animal-related songs, while 95 older pupils were behind the main play itself.

At the helm as producer was headteacher Ken Ford, who said the magical story had long been a favourite of children who have attended the school.

Mr Ford added: "I think many schools have the tale as a standard classic. I think children can identify with the creatures and characters in it.

"The play has a significance and meaning behind it and, as a Christian school, we are keen to use events like this to gently encourage people in their faith."