UPPER Avon School, Durrington's annual musicals have become so popular that more than 60 pupils have been taking part in its latest - the Wizard of Oz.

The show, which began its run last night, and continues tonight and tomorrow night, is directed by Sue Lucas, the school's head of creative arts.

She said the school put on a musical every year and auditions began in November, with the major work getting underway after Christmas.

"This is my eighth show and each year we get more and more people wanting to be in it," she said.

"Including our stage hands, we have between 60 and 70 kids this time, from Year 7 to the sixth form.

"We invite the local junior schools and do a performance for them and lots of mums and dads come to the performances."

She said there was no Toto the dog in the stage production of the Wizard of Oz, but the main parts were as usual - Dorothy is played by Georgie Robertson, the cowardly lion by Nicole Goldie, the tinman by James Tucker, the scarecrow by Jack Vincent, the wicked witch of the west by Jo Cofferon and the sorceress of the north by Bryony Robertson - and there are plenty of Munchkins.

Art teachers Genny Kitchingman and David Macauley designed the costumes and set respectively and music teacher Andrea Grearson is in the band, which includes pupils, two governors and two ex-pupils.