More than 180 children from Oxford's twin cities will be joining local youth groups to stage an opera.

The children from Grenoble, Bonn, Leiden and Perm arrived on August 12 and will spend the week rehearsing for performances at the town hall in St Aldate's on August 18 and 19.

Among the youngsters taking part in the production of Nuyyes Fludde are members of the Perm Youth Ballet - one of Russia's top ballet schools - and a youth choir from Bonn which performed for the Lord Mayor's carol concert last December. They will be joined by the Oxfordshire County Youth Choir, students from North Oxford College Theatre Studies group and the Oxford-based Doyle Academy of Irish Dance.

The production, based on the biblical tale of Noah and the flood,was the brainchild of the city council international officer, May Wylie, the director of Orchestra of St John's, Smith Square, John Lubbock, and Cllr Jim Campbell.

Mrs Wylie said: "A number of us thought it would be nice to organise an international production, so a planning committee was formed with members of the different twinning associations."

Call 01865 252537 for tickets.