AN award-winning school choir is dreaming of a part in a West End musical.

Cockerton CE Primary School, Darlington, has launched a bid to perform in the final of BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do.

The winners of the online competition will also be invited to appear on the West End in a Children In Need performance of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Children from the school choir saw the competition on the Saturday night television show and begged their teachers to enter.

During the past week, its 20 members have been rehearsing the piece selected by Andrew Lloyd Webber for the competition. They will record it and upload it onto the BBC website.

Choirmaster and deputy headteacher Clair Metcalfe said: "The children love singing and love performing.

"They got so excited when they saw it on television.

"They have all begged me to do it."

She said the choir had won Alpha Radio's choir competition for three consecutive years, picking up £1,000 each time.

But this time, they will have to compete against school choirs from across the country.

Ms Metcalfe said: "We are hoping we will do well. The first step is to get into the top 20, which then goes on public votes."

She said she hoped viewers in Darlington would help the choir to achieve its dream.