Waterloo Road stars arrive at Abbey Village school in helicopter (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Waterloo Road stars arrive at Abbey Village school in helicopter

12:30pm Saturday 5th November 2011 in Abbey Village

YOUNGSTERS at a rural school were rewarded for holding a charity event when cast members from TV show Waterloo Road touched down at the school in a helicopter.

The 70 pupils and staff from Abbey Village Primary School, Bolton Road, gathered to watch the chopper descend as the stars of the BBC school drama, including Jason Done, Rebecca Ryan and Ben Ryan Davis, arrived.

They were there to personally thank pupils for taking part in Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital charity’s Be Seen in Green Day.

Green clothing and even wigs were worn and pupils made a small donation to the charity.

Six of the pupils from the school have been treated at the hospital and another strong link comes from 18-year-old former pupil Matthew Unsworth.

He had a kidney transplant last year and has suffered from a rare genetic condition since birth, meaning months spent at the hospital since he was a baby.

Matthew’s mum, Lynn, works as the school secretary and said the visit had caused excitement all week at the school.

“It’s just a fantastic for the kids to have an exciting event like this, something to make memories.

“I can’t speak too highly of Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, our family owes them an enormous debt of gratitude.”

Six pupils were selected for a photocall with the actors who were then put under the spotlight in a question and answer session at an assembly.

Mr Stephen Knight, headteacher at Abbey Village Primary School, said: “Having a helicopter land at school was really thrilling.

“It was lessons as normal in the morning but I could tell there was real excitement in the air.”