St Martha's school choir take to the stage with internationally-renowned band.

Pupils at a King's Lynn school were searching for the hero inside themselves when The Drifters asked them to perform on the opening night of their UK tour.

Members of the choir at St Martha's school were joined by band member Michael Williams yesterday to rehearse for the big night at Lynn Corn Exchange.

And the pupils received a resounding seal of approval from the man himself.

'They sing so well that I am quite worried about my job. Vocally this is the best school,' he said.

St Martha's was chosen by the band to take part in the June 3 show which kicks-off a UK and Europe tour for the band which doesn't end until December.

'It is the third time we have been to King's Lynn, but the first time we will have the children on stage. It's going to be fantastic,' said Mr Williams.

Originally from Alabama, but now living in New York, Mr Williams said he loved playing in the UK and was always pleased to be back in Norfolk.

'It's really nice over here,' he said.

The choir, which is led by teacher Helen L'Estrange, will take to the stage and lead the second-half of the show when they will join newest Drifters member Carlton Powell for a rendition of the M People hit Search for the Hero Inside Yourself.

'It's a wonderful, inspirational song and with the London olympics coming up it seemed a good choice,' said Drifters manager Kathy Mashadie, who also visited St Martha's.

On the day itself the children will be at the Corn Exchange for sound and light checks before the evening performance when they will have their own dressing room.

'They are so excited,' said head teacher Mr Aidan McGovern.

It's not every day that primary school pupils have the chance to sing with a band which has sold more than 214 million records around the world.

The Drifters were created in 1953 and the line-up has changed numerous times over the years, but the band is still owned by the family of founding member George Treadwell. All the members have to have a physical resemblence to the orginial line-up - and maintain the sound which made the band an international success.

The Lynn show is on Friday, June 3, and tickets are available from the Corn Exchange box office on 01553 764864.