Young actresses from Oxfordshire were given the chance to see themselves on the big screen at an exclusive showing of the new film St Trinian's.

Unfortunately, the young stars from across Oxfordshire did not get the chance to attend the premiere with the film's stars, Rupert Everett, Colin Firth and Russell Brand.

But the team from Bicester's Perform! stage school were invited to a screening at the Odeon cinema, in London's Leicester Square last week.

The film is a modern remake of the popular comedy films from the 1950s and 1960s about the out-of-control pupils of a girls' boarding school.

A group of 17 girls from the Bicester stage school beat hundreds of others to win roles as extras in the film and enjoyed filming in Henley and London's Trafalgar Square, as well as at Ealing Studios.

Katie Buchholz, who recently landed the part of Jane Banks in the West End production of Mary Poppins, was just one of the Perform! pupils appearing in the film, which was released on Friday.

The 12-year-old, of Murcott, near Bicester, said: "Being an extra on St Trinian's was really fun. Rupert Everett was really nice.

"He told me what I was going to be doing in the scenes so we would not bump into each other. Colin Firth was a real laugh, he was so funny, the whole crew did not stop laughing.

"I loved performing. When I'm on stage in front of a large audience, it's like a dream come true."

Toni Purnell, of Forge Place, Fritwell, was another of the Perform! pupils taking part.

The 11-year-old, who attends Longfields Primary School, said: "I was a chav extra and got to run around with a hockey stick.

"I did four days of filming and although I was quite scared to begin with, I had an amazing and exciting time."

Perform! director Sally Ross, of Lark Rise, Bucknell, said: "One of the scenes was of the girls getting off the coach in Trafalgar Square and running across to the National Portrait Gallery. This all had to be shot before the gallery opened to the public.

"I'm really proud of my girls. It has been a great experience - especially getting to work with stars such as Rupert Everett and Colin Firth. They all had such a wonderful time.

"This was the first time Perform! had been involved in a film on this scale. And I'm hoping that if there is a second film, the girls will be chosen to star again."