SCHOOLCHILDREN were given a lesson in the benefits of education with help from their MP on Friday.

Andrew Murrison visited Westbury Junior School and Dilton Marsh Primary School as part of Back to School Day.

The initiative is part of the Global Campaign for Education Week of Action to highlight the plight of 100m children around the world who have no access to schools.

Nina Stiddard, Year 6 teacher at Dilton Marsh Primary School, said: "At first some of the children thought never having to go to school was a great idea.

"But after we watched videos with children scavenging on rubbish sites and heard that many millions of children grow up unable to read or write they changed their minds. In fact they came up with some great ideas including creating vouchers for struggling countries to spend on education and training and sending teachers from England."

Dr Murrison was cooked a lunch by the school pupils and took part in a debate on worldwide education shortages.

He said: "It is unacceptable that so many children do not have the chance to obtain even the most basic education."

Over 1,000 schools took part in the Back to School Day and millions of children in over 100 countries are taking part.

The Global Campaign for Education is a coalition of charities, teachers' unions and citizens' groups from around the world aimed at bringing basic education to children.