THE Pied Piper Theatre Group paid its annual visit to Shottermill Infant School last week and put on a spellbinding performance.

Actors used puppets to bring their stage adaptation of Anne Fines' book Care of Henry to life – about who will look after young Hugo and his dog Henry best when his mum is away having a baby.

Headteacher Jilly Storey said: "The annual visit of the Pied Piper Theatre is something that the children really look forward to and we were not disappointed.

"The plays the Pied Piper put on for children are of the highest quality they are always so different and creatively produced."

"The children were enthralled by the very touching but fast-moving story of a little boy, who has to decide who to stay with when his mummy is about to have a baby. Daddy is away in the Navy and the choice is between Granny, Mrs Mariposa the exciting neighbour, and his uncle Jack who is fun but not very dependable.

"The tough decision is that the care of Henry is paramount and he has to find out who will a dog,too. The puppets used for Henry and the neighbours' pets were so well-crafted and handled that one child asked if it was a real dog.

"The play was also packed full of humour and the children had a fabulous afternoon. A big thank you goes to the Friends of Shottermill Infants who fund this visit each year for all the children."