THEY followed the yellow brick road all the way to Southampton's newest luxury cruise ship for a school treat that took the youngsters over the rainbow.

Nearly 200 pupils of city's Oakwood Junior School were given the VIP treatment when they were invited to step aboard the vessel, Sea Princess that features a huge 300 square foot poolside cinema screen, Movies under the Stars.

The children, from the school's years three to five, had the best seats on the ship to see a special screening of the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz at the open-air cinema

All the pupils stretched out on sun loungers and wrapped themselves up in blankets to see the film before being given lunch and having the chance to meet Sea Princess's master, Captain Julian Burgess.

Rosie Venis, 10, said: "It really is a posh ship. Watching the film outside was great as I had not seen the Wizard of Oz before.''

Alex Wood, also aged ten, said: "When we arrived I could not believe how big the ship was, it was just like a block of flats but much bigger.''

A fleet of five coaches ferried the pupils and a team of staff from the school to Western Docks where later this month Sea Princess will be officially named by television actress, Joanna Lumley.

The sell-out quayside event on Thursday, May 26 will raise thousands of pounds for Barnardo's children's charity.