NEWPORT schoolchildren were fired up with enthusiasm by composer Mervyn Burtch and poet Francesca Kay yesterday.

Pupils from Malpas Church, Malpas Park and Malpas Court joined Rougemont School for a performance of The First Dragon as well as Prokofiev's popular Peter and the Wolf.

Mr Burtch and Ms Kaye, who respectively wrote and narrated The First Dragon, also ran musical and creative workshops as part of the Lower Machen Festival.

"This was an extraordinary opportunity for local children to see some really spectacular musical pieces played live," said Rougemont School's head teacher Jonathan Tribbick.