A TELEVISION star helped to coach blind and partially sighted children in Cwmbran for a unique production last week.

Cardiff-based actor and ex-Hollyoaks star, Bernard Latham (known to fans as Mr Cunningham) has been passing on his expertise to the children for the past five weeks to prepare for last Friday's performance at Cwmbran's Congress Theatre.

In the production, named "All Sorts," the fifteen children, aged eight to eighteen, showed off the new skills they have learnt, including body percussion, singing and dancing.

The programme was run by the RNIB Cymru and UCAN Productions and aimed to boost the children's confidence.

Mr Latham's wife, Jane Latham, is the development manager of UCAN Productions.

She said: "The children have had a fabulous time and made many new friends, as well as learning important new skills.

"Some of the children are possibly the only visually impaired child in their school. That can be a bit isolating, so I think it is extremely important to build up their confidence."

Mrs Latham added: "We have some extraordinarily talented children in the group.

"It's a matter of watch this space for Eleanor, 11, and Joesph Wait, 9. I think they are going to be local heroes.

"Eleanor is a talented musician and Joesph has just been accepted into the Royal College of Music and Drama for their Junior access to music programme."

  • For more information on UCAN productions, visit www.ucanproductions.org.