A school was overrun with rats last night - but there was no cause for alarm.

Youngsters at Queen Mary's School, in Topcliffe, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, were putting on their latest production, Rats, a musical which tells the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

Twenty-five girls, aged 13 and 14, took part in the production, which was staged for parents and friends in the great hall of the Grade l-listed country house.

Geoffrey Loy, principal of the Northac International Theatre School, has taken time from directing at the Aldwych Theatre, Birmingham, to mastermind the production.

Mr Loy has strong connections with the school and staged Jesus Christ Superstar there last year.

He said: "This is very different to Superstar.

"It is less intense, but nevertheless extremely entertaining and lively."