More than 40 Year 5 pupils from Bedewell Primary School in Hebburn visited Merseyside as part of a curriculum project on the 1960s.

The youngsters even got the chance to sing at the Cavern Club, the legendary music venue made famous by The Beatles.

The pupils, aged nine and 10, spent the morning at the Beatles Story at Albert Dock, a museum telling the story of how the band met and went to achieve worldwide fame.

They enjoyed an interactive session involving writing newspaper articles, creating Beatles artwork, dressing up, playing a giant computer-generated piano and dancing in a 1960s record store.

The children then boarded a Magical Mystery Tour coach and visited sites associated with the Beatles, including Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, John Lennon's school and Paul McCartney's childhood home.

The children's last port of call was the Cavern Club.

They had already worked with Jennifer Hastings, a professional singer, to preparing their voices and dance routines for renditions of two Beatles songs, Eight Days a Week and Help!

Brendan Grogan, 10, said: "When we arrived at the Cavern, we had to go down hundreds of stairs.

"When we went on the stage to sing, we all had butterflies in our stomachs. There were loads of people in the Cavern, and they all clapped and cheered."

Headteacher Les McAnaney, one of the staff accompanying the children, said: "In front of a live audience, they sang both songs with great enthusiasm and to loud applause.

"Then, as an extra treat, they were invited to stay and join in while Tim Shaw, the singer booked to perform that afternoon, sang three more Beatles songs, getting the children to sing along and dance to When I'm Sixty Four, Hey Jude and She Loves You.

"At Bedewell, we like to bring the curriculum to life, providing unique and exciting experiences for our pupils.

"Not only will this fire up their learning, it's also a day they'll remember for the rest of their lives.

"After all, how many people can say they've sang on the same stage as The Beatles?"

Eve Henderson, the children's teacher, said: "We are so proud of the way the pupils behaved.

"Their behaviour was impeccable, and even the Beatles themselves would have been proud of the children's singing."