PRIMARY school children enjoyed the power and drama of the opera when they were invited to the UK premiere of Shostakovich's Silly Little Mouse.

The short opera was performed by Bolton Music Service and the Hall Orchestra at Victoria Hall, in front of more than 2,000 children from Bolton and across Greater Manchester.

The performance was part of the Hall's education programme to introduce youngsters to the arts.

Ten members of Bolton Music Service took part along with 33 members of the orchestra.

And many of them dressed as characters from the the operas they performed.

Steve Pickett, Hall education director, said: "It was a brilliant introduction for children to the opera.

"It was only a short performance and they really enjoyed it."

The story is based on a mother mouse's difficulty to get her baby mouse to sleep and her efforts to enlist the help of other animals.

After the performance, some of the children were given a chance to meet the cast backstage.

Mr Pickett said: "It was a lovely twee colourful opera, with characters such as Mrs Cat and Mrs Pig."

Children were also treated to a performance of Prokofiev's much loved Peter and the Wolf.