PUPILS played to an audience of millions when they appeared children's favourite Blue Peter.

The Smithills School brass band went down a storm on the long-running TV programme.

They managed to control their nerves as they brought their award winning sound to the BBC studios in London and were watched by an estimated audience of seven million.

The Blue Peter presenters gave the band a warm reception and interviewed them after the had played.

Tuba player Jimmy MacHugh was asked by presenter Konnie Huq about the achievements of the band.

He trumpeted triumphs which include winning the world championship three times in a row.

Jimmy said: "We work well as a team and enjoy ourselves."

Another young musician, Nisha Patel added her advice to all the millions of children watching -- to practise "really hard".

It was also be a fitting "last post" for principal cornet player, award-winning Lynsey Hayes, aged 18.

Lynsey, who is leaving the band, told the presenters how she and the rest of the band had played in front of The Prince of Wales, Tony Blair and ex-Prime Minister John Major.

Headteacher James Lawson, who has only been at the school since the beginning of this term, said this morning: "The band's success is one of the real joys for me of joining Smithills.

"I thought they represented the school and Bolton superbly well."