Some of the Janvrin pupils who are performing in Coventry this weekend

CHILDREN from a local primary school travelled to the UK today to give their first-ever national performance as a choir.

The 25 children, from Janvrin School, will be performing in Coventry tonight alongside the town’s Salvation Army Songsters. More than 200 tickets have already been sold for the performance.

It will be the second time that the two groups have collaborated on stage. The first was in 2007, when the Coventry ensemble visited the Island to perform at St Mary and St Peter’s Church and asked 150 Janvrin children to join them on stage. Two years later and they have now invited the primary school back to return the favour.

The children in the choir are aged between nine and 11 and are all in Years 5 and 6. Phil Walker, Janvrin’s performing arts co-ordinator, said that the school had been planning the trip, which is sponsored by Dandara, since January.

The group, who are being accompanied by six teachers and four parents, return on Sunday. Tomorrow they will have the chance to visit Madame Tussauds, the London Eye and the Rainforest Café and will also be seeing the musical, the Lion King.

‘The children are all absolutely ecstatic,’ said Mr Walker. ‘They are really looking forward to the trip. They have never been away as a choir before. ‘As I myself am from Coventry this is quite a big thing for me. A lot of friends I grew up with will be coming to watch the concert.’