Schoolboys Craig Naylor and David Mackay are playing orphans in a BBC Television film, writes Peter Barrington.

Craig and David, both aged ten, were chosen from a group of fellow classmates at Glory Farm primary school, in Hendon Place, Bicester.

The film is called Station Jim and they have been called for shoots at Great Tew and the Bluebell Railway in Sussex.

Craig, of Meteor Close, Bicester, and David, of Bristol Road, Bicester, are two children in an orphanage. They become involved with a dog called Jim that has escaped from a fair and ends up at a country railway station. George Cole, star of Minder, plays the stationmaster, Celia Imrie is an assistant at the orphanage and Prunella Scales, who made her name as Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers, appears as Queen Victoria visiting the station.

Craig's father, Peter, said: "The boys are thrilled to be in the film, especially to see the scenes where the orphanage is burnt down."

The boys' headteacher Michael Waine said they were approached by a producer of the film for pupils to audition.

"We were involved with a lot of detailed negotiation with the production company and we were pleased when Craig and David were chosen. All our children are interested in the film," said Mr Waine.

Station Jim, made by BBC Films and Greenpoint Films, is due to be screened next Easter.