ALL 30 pupils at a village school were transported back to ancient Greece yesterday when five actresses arrived to work with them on a drama project.

The children wore masks and home-made costumes at Woodland Primary School, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, while the team from Flabagast Arts showed them how to act like the Greeks of old.

The group, based at Washington, Tyne and Wear, and led by Sarah Murray, spent two hours in rehearsals with the pupils and then helped them put on a short stage performance for parents.

It was arranged by headteacher Marilyn Gordon because the juniors are studying the history of ancient Greece this term.

She said, "I heard that Flabagast specialise in drama from that period, so I invited them here. Only the juniors are doing the project, but we roped in the infants too to take part in the special day. It has been wonderful fun for everyone."