CHILDREN at a Devizes primary school hit the high notes when classical singing star Carly Paoli visited to lead lessons with a difference.

The BRIT nominee Ms Paoli, who has appeared at iconic venues across the globe and appeared with opera greats such as Andrea Bocelli and José Carreras, seemed at home in the hall of Nursteed Primary School.

She said she was passionate about the importance of music in education and wanted to help young children have a love of singing. She is an ambassador for the BBC's Music Day.

The star, whose fans include the Pope, Prince Charles, Dame Helen Mirren and Brad Pitt, was joined be her musical director Liz Hetherington to work with the pupils.

The session included vocal exercises, learning a song and then doing a performance.

Children were encouraged to forget their inhibitions during a lively warm up session which saw them testing not just their voices but their whole bodies under Ms Paoli's direction.

Ms Paoli, who was recently an ambassador for BBC Music Day, said: "I was lucky enough to have music lessons and go to schools where I was encouraged to perform.

"It helped give me confidence, to be engaged with other people, to feel good about myself and ultimately to fulfil my dreams of standing on a stage. I am very excited to repay my good fortune and work with children so they can enjoy music the same way I have always done.

“Every week the children in my junior school would come together to sing. Since then, making a connection to music and passing it onto an audience has been my passion. I hope that by becoming an ambassador for BBC Music Day I can inspire other young artists to follow their dreams and discover the power of music.”