HUNDREDS of pupils from Bolton are up for the World Cup and their voices can be heard on an England 2006 football anthem.

Children from Turton School, Harper Green, and Bolton School girls' division, were in fine voice when the recording team visited the schools.

Together with tens of thousands of other teenagers across the country, the 11 and 12-year-olds will be heard singing a football chant which will be incorporated into the charity single, "We are England".

The chant consists of the word "Easy" being repeated over and over again.

The song has been written and recorded by pop band Ricky, who recently enjoyed chart success with their debut single, "Stop Knocking The Walls Down".

Sara Cain, Harper Green School's year seven co-ordinator, said: "We had around 300 children in the school hall for the recording. It was very exciting for them. Two of the band members came in to talk to the children first.

"We were told by the recording team that the children were among the most professional that they had dealt with."

Around 20 pupils from Year Seven were also chosen to have their photograph taken for the CD.

She added: "There will be something like 40,000 voices on the single, and the pupils can't wait to get their hands on it."

Profits from the song which the Football Association may adopt as their official World Cup anthem will be donated to the children's charity, the NSPCC.

The band are also hoping that the collective number of voices on the single will break the Guinness World Record for the greatest number of participants in the recording of a hit song.

More than 200 English school are involved in the recording of the song. Each school will be recorded separately, before all the voices are mixed together using digital technology.

The single is already available to be pre-ordered from the HMV website at www.hmv.co.uk It will be released on Monday, June 5, just days before the World Cup.