Pupils at a north Norfolk school are set to tickle the ivories of a set of prestigious pianos.

Gresham's School has acquired 21 Steinway pianos on a lease agreement with prominent piano company Steinway, eight of which are grand pianos.

It means Gresham's will be the only school in the east of England with full Steinway School Status and the prep-school will be the only one in the United Kingdom.

To mark the arrival of the pianos they were played by pupils from all three schools on the site, ranging in age from five to 18, and blessed by the school chaplain, Father Bryan Roberts.

Lisa Lowe, marketing co-ordinator at Gresham's, said: 'This is a really great opportunity for the school musicians to have the chance to practice on some of the best pianos in the world. It also means they will have access to play in Steinway halls all over the world.'

Steinway Halls are buildings housing concert halls, showrooms and sales departments for Steinway & Sons pianos.

Ms Lowe said the schools would also be using the pianos in events celebrating the centenary of Old Greshamian Benjamin Britten next year.

The lease agreement for the pianos has been sponsored by The Gresham Foundation.

The school has sold off the old pianos it had.