PENKETH High School pupils are taking part in a charity production of Les Miserables.

Around 50 children are members of a drama group which will be performing the show in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

They will be performing with the Stage Express group, which is based at the Heath Road School.

"The rehearsals have been going really well and I am amazed at the children," said Jacqui Podoski, aged 44, from Stage Express.

"Even the little ones doing the small parts have been fantastic."

Jacqui, who moved from Callands to Wigan around 10 years ago, chose the show because she knew it well - she performed it at the Palace Theatre in London from 1989 to 1994, playing roles including Fantine and Eponine.

Her mother died last year after years of heart problems and she decided to do the show in her memory.

Around 120 children aged six to 18 will be taking part, including youngsters from the Stage Express school in Wigan.

They will be backed by an orchestra made up of teachers and friends of Jacqui's husband - he is a music director.

Les Miserables is also like an opera in that every line is sung - an extra challenge for the children.

The show is costing around £8,000 to put on and Jacqui says that it needs to be a sell-out for both performances to raise around £2,000 for charity.

Tickets cost £10 and are available by calling 01942 577887.

The show is on Sunday, July 9, at 2pm and 7pm, at The Theatre Royal in St Helens.