RAF LYNEHAM has said it will try to curtail flights directly over Corsham School to avoid disrupting the pupils' current open air production of George Orwell's Animal Farm.

The school lies directly underneath the furthest point of an imaginary eight-mile line extending beyond Lyneham's runways, which pilots use as a guide for landing.

Air crews usually start their final approaches closer to the runway, but use the maximum distance, from the point directly above Corsham School, to practise emergency landings or bad-weather drills.

Senior operations controller Flt Lt Mike Green said pilots are being asked to begin their final approaches nearer to the airbase to avoid disrupting the play, which started last night and runs until Friday. But if operations requiring the maximum approach distance become necessary, he said they would have to take priority. "We have agreed to try to curtail operations directly above the school out of a sense of community spirit and in response to a request from Corsham School," he said.

"In all our operations we do our very best to limit disruption but on occasions the operations we carry out do cause problems to people in the community.

"If we can accommodate people we will but our aircraft operations take priority."

The head of drama at Corsham School, Pip Cawte, decided to stage an outdoor production of Animal Farm after the success of last year's school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which was also held outdoors.

Using Peter Hall's theatre adaptation of George Orwell's satirical novel, the 80 children taking part, aged between 11 and 15, will wear animal masks and walk with sticks representing two extra legs.

The colourful card animal masks designed by art teacher Rebecca McCarthy include pigs, horses, sheep, dogs, hens, a goat and a raven.

Music by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich, who was persecuted by the KGB, will be used to add atmosphere to the play, a satire on Communist Russia.

The production should make a profit and head of business studies, Eddie Simms, has seized the opportunity to make the school some cash by selling T-shirts and hooded tops emblazoned with Animal Farm logos, which will be available after performances.

Miss Cawte said: "It's been brilliant fun and what's lovely about Corsham School is everybody gets involved.

"Headteacher Martin Williams supports everything we do because he recognises how much the kids get out of it. Even if the school doesn't make anything out of the play he understands it's worth more to the children than any amount of money.

"I have a tremendous team who have worked very hard to make this production a success, from the actors themselves to the back stage staff helping with everything from sound to scenery.

"Tickets are still available from the school at £5 for adults or £3.50 concessions. The play starts at 7.30pm.

Pupils, parents and staff from Corsham School raised £425 for children's cancer research when they held a mufti day last month.

Their funds were given to Schneider Electric's Luli campaign, which is raising money for the Children With Leukaemia charity. after Schneider Electric donated furniture to the school when its office in Chippenham closed.