SCHOOLCHILDREN got their chance to be in an orchestra with a twist.

They were given the chance to perform on recycled instruments, such as gas pipes, old shopping trolleys and plastic drums, during a visit from musical group Weapons Of Sound.

The experience was organised by Claire Smith, the extended services co-ordinator for the Highworth and Blunsdon cluster of schools.

The group visited Westrop and Northview primary schools, in Highworth, on Tuesday, St Andrew’s Primary School, in Blunsdon, and Eastrop Infant School, in Highworth, on Wednesday and Southfield Junior School, in Highworth, yesterday. Pupils there were joined by students from the town’s Warneford Secondary School.

After performing on the instruments, testing out the children’s recognition of musical themes played on drums and gas pipes, Maya Orme-Lynch and Nick Cox, from Weapons Of Sound, took workshops with the children.

They also explained how they got hold of the items that became instruments and reinforced the recycle message.

On each day the children also got a chance to perform what they had learnt in a concert in front of teachers and parents.

Tara Griffiths, a Year 6 teacher at Westrop Primary School, said: “It was a really good stress-buster for my year 6s, who have just finished their SATs.

“The children loved it and it was great to get together with Northview for the performance at the end of the day and see what they had been doing.”

Southfield Junior School’s headteacher Paul White said the scheme fitted in perfectly with the school’s current ethos as they have already achieved the Silver Eco-School Award.

“To see all the recycled materials like the gas pipes – the children were enthralled,” he said.

Pupil Lucy Titcombe, eight, said: “I thought it was really good what they did, making instruments out of junk and doing stuff like that.

“It really inspired us when they’re actually playing them. It was good fun.”

Heather Wilson, nine, said: “They were a real influence because they’re so eco-friendly, instead of buying drum sticks they made them out of the stuff they have got.”

Daniel Mulvey, nine, said: “I thought the noise was better than normal instruments I think, and it was quite good as they didn’t just make us listen, we were allowed to have a go on the drums.”