A BOLTON primary school’s Christmas production could be filmed and seen by millions of television viewers.

Ladywood School has been shortlisted as a finalist in Virgin TV’s national Christmas Stars competition.

If the Masefield Road school wins, their play will be professionally filmed and shared with four million Virgin TV customers this Christmas.

It will also receive £10,000 and television presenter will guest star as the play’s narrator.

The school’s head of creative arts, Yvonne Heywood, said: “The children are really excited and we are all delighted.”

Mrs Heywood and her team wrote the play, which is called Santa Needs Help.

Set in Santa’s workshop on Christmas Eve, Santa faces disaster as his sleigh won’t start as it has run out of Christmas spirit. Each class will have to dance, sign or sing to help pump up the Christmas spirit and get Santa and his sleigh off the ground and in the air.

The school got through to the final after submitting an entry explaining why it deserves to win.

It said: “At Ladywood School our motto is ‘believe and achieve’ and we ensure our children, whatever their needs, have positive experiences and become the best that they can be.

“It is important that they are seen as being inspirational and aspirational, they are amazing in what they overcome and achieve every day.

“We make sure that we are part of the community to create positive role models for others such as the dance and music festival. We want to share this message with as many people as possible and show just what can be achieved when children are supported in the right way.

“It’s guaranteed that our play will be heart-warming, uplifting and fill your viewers with Christmas spirit.”

The school – which has been rated outstanding - caters for primary aged pupils with complex learning difficulties and, or autistic spectrum disorder.

All 16 classes are involved in the production, which means every one of the 133 pupils have a chance to shine.

Mrs Heywood said: “They all put 100 per cent into this and act their hearts out. We are so proud of them. If we win, we'll put the £5,000 towards a new sensory room.