More than 300 children are set to take centre stage at Great Yarmouth's Britannia Pier - buoyed by a celebrity star guest.

They will perform songs from around the world inspired by the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.

The school children hail from seven schools in the town and will perform alongside The Voice finalist Jamie Johnson.

Melodie Fearns, headteacher at St George's Infant and Nursery School, said she hoped the singer would help to raise aspiration and encourage the children to 'follow their dreams' as well as adding 'a bit of celebrity sparkle.'

She said children from each school had been working on a routine for months with a Sweden-inspired Abba routine and a Brazil-based Samba number included in the varied programme.

The show on Friday July 4 at 6.30pm follows the success of a first song and dance show at the seaside venue last year.

'We got so much out of it that we wanted to do it again,' Mrs Fearns said. 'The children were all beaming smiles and so proud of themselves, it was wonderful.

'Each school does one song and one dance that they have been working on for several months. Each school has chosen a country to represent and it might be traditional or something with a modern twist.'

The collaboration between the seven schools was set up with a £5000 grant to celebrate the Olympic Games. But with so many benefits to students and staff the relationship has continued, developing a momentum of its own.

The combined effort has seen art and attendance projects flourish and skills shared across schools and meant they could hire a large venue like Britannia Pier which would be beyond the pocket of single school.

Hiring the end-of-pier theatre meant the children could be involved in a properly professional production with all the technical support a modern show could hope for.

The children will perform to around 2000 of their peers at two afternoon performances. Then in the evening they hope to entertain a 1000-strong crowd drawn from parents and the wider community.

The seven schools taking part are Alderman Swindell Infants, Great Yarmouth High School, Great Yarmouth Primary Academy, North Denes Junior, Northgate Infants, St George's Infant and Nursery and St Nicholas Priory Junior.

Jamie Johnson who was taken to the finals by Kyle Minogue has an aunt who lives locally. He has already worked with children at North Denes Junior School, helping them to judge their own talent contest based on The Voice format.

Tickets priced £5 from the Britannia Pier box office on 01493 842914 www.britannia-pier.co.uk.