NURSERY school pupils have had their first taste of stardom after releasing a sell-out compact disc.

The children, aged between two and four, have compiled a collection of songs including Jingle Bells and The Wheels on the Bus, with the help of music teachers at Bishop Auckland College.

David Hopkins, part-time music lecturer at the college, has been working with the children on the project alongside co-producer Paul Thompson.

He said: "We thought it would be a good idea to do something that would give the parents a keepsake. We had never heard of another nursery making a CD before, so we thought we would give it a go.''

At first it was decided to make 50 copies to go on sale for £3.50 each at the college's Christmas fair, but it was so popular that it sold out straight away.

It took the 40 children six weeks to learn all the songs before recording the final version.

As part of the project Mr Hopkins and Mr Thompson, who have their own recording studios at the college, showed the children different pieces of recording equipment and explained how they worked.

Mr Hopkins said: "The kids have had a great time, and as well as having fun it has been educational. We are still taking orders now."