A colourful roadshow is teaching children the importance of communication skills.

The British Telecom Communications Roadshow is visiting schools educating children about basic speaking and listening skills in an interactive way.

BT has employed the theatrical company CragRats to deliver the live performance free to schools.

It combines an exciting mix of music, dance and drama to help to educate the children.

The programme includes a 30- minute drama followed by an hour-long workshop aimed at nine to 11-year-olds. The children are introduced to two families, the Muddles who are unable to communicate efficiently and the Crystals who can listen and speak clearly.

Carl Carter, education programme manager at BT, said: "We want to create a better understanding of how communication can help people in their daily lives and therefore create a better world."

Last Tuesday the roadshow called at Bullamoor Junior and Applegarth Primary schools in Northallerton.

Bullamoor Juniors headteacher Bob Wallace, said: "The children benefited immensely from the programme. It is important that they learn about themselves as people and they learn how to behave with others.

"They learned how to be good listeners and how to speak properly to another person - using eye contact, being respectful and without raising their voices.It also feeds back into the academic process and children can work more efficiently by having empathy with other people."