YOUNGSTERS went on an undercover mission as part of a theatre company project at Swindon's National Trust headquarters.

The Sixth Sense Theatre Company kicked off a series of visits by town schoolchildren to the Heelis National Trust centre.

Pupils from Robert Le Kyng Primary School took part in the first session of the Building Planets project, which aims to raise awareness of environmental conservation.

The Year 5 pupils dressed as scientists to get into the spirit of the afternoon, which was led by two of the company's actors.

They watched a play on the theme of Can We Trust The National Trust?

Then, led by the actors in character as environmental secret agents, they toured the headquarters.

Year 5 teacher Teresa Townsend said: "The pupils explored Heelis due to the fact that it has been built to conserve the planet, with solar panels and the roof facing one way to help heat and light the building.

"They had to pretend they were scientists to remain under cover.

"From the moment they arrived they were in character, and the actors were ready to set the children up in their role to be secretive and quiet all the time."

The visit was part of a wider project, which will see the pupils looking at their own school's environmental performance and their own lifestyles, while promoting environmental ethics.

Other schools set to visit Heelis as part of the project are Liden Primary, Crowdy's Hill, Ruskin Junior, Lawn Primary, Ferndale Junior, Eldene Primary and Moredon Primary.