Children from two Vale schools have appeared in Christmas features on national television.
Fifteen tiny tots from Turnfurlong Infant School performed the nativity for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby in the ITV studios of This Morning.
And twenty infants from Buckingham Park Church of England Primary School sang a song at Waddesdon Manor for Daybreak.
Turnfurlong head teacher Jan Tyson, who accompanied the children to the studio in London on Thursday, said: “It was brilliant, we had a fantastic time. We left school on the coach at 6am and had breakfast at the studio. Then we went to Santa’s Grotto and met Len Goodman from Strictly Come Dancing, who was one of the guests on the show. The children all said ‘seven’ when they saw him and he said it back to them.
“They also met actress Pam St Clement and had their photo taken with her.”
The school was contacted by the show just a few days before going down to the studio, and was asked if some of the children would like to take part in the nativity story which was being portrayed by a different school each day throughout the week.
Mrs Tyson revealed: “Phillip Schofield said we had been the best school they’d had, and our children were certainly the youngest. It really was an absolutely marvellous experience and a wonderful day.
“There was a real donkey there, and lots of dogs because there was another feature on the show about dogs. The children also got to meet Father Christmas who was paying a visit to the show.”
The children from Buckingham Park will appear in the specially recorded segment on Friday morning’s Daybreak programme.
Head teacher Nick Waldron said the show contacted Waddesdon Manor because it is such a fantastic venue, and the manor then contacted the school as they have close links.
Twenty children from reception sang Jesus Is Born within the Narnia winter scene at the Coach House at the manor.
Mr Waldron said: “The chaps from ITV said the children were very good, and completed the recording in under an hour with just three takes.
“It was a great opportunity and I wish the whole school could have taken part.
“We had to put names in a hat to chose who went. It was good fun and they are all lovely singers.”