FOLLOWING its last stage production before it closes in July, pupils from Murton County Primary School took a mini version of Oliver! to a village home for elderly people.

After ten months of preparation, the school staged the musical at Murton's Glebe Centre last week, where it was a sellout on each of its two nights.

Yesterday, a handful of the cast visited Church View old people's home to give residents a sample of the show.

Murton County Primary, which was opened in 1910, will merge with Murton Jubilee School and Murton Sea View Nursery in September in new premises in the former mining community.

The school decided to make its last show something to remember. An in-house DVD documentary charted the show from inception to final performance.

More than 100 pupils took part in the production, which headteacher Allen Evans said was "absolutely stunning".

The show was backed by the Coalfield Regeneration Trust, which enabled the school to enlist the help of singing coaches and dance teachers.

The 96-year-old school will close at the end of the summer term, and is planning a gala open day followed by an evening in one of Murton's social clubs.

Mr Evans, who moved to the school as deputy head in 1986 and took over as headteacher in 1991, will take early retirement when the schools merge.