Scores of West Sussex students took to the stage for a spectacular at the Millennium Dome.

A total of 23 schools provided the manpower for a theatre production at the controversial London landmark.

Sixty-five pupils, aged 11 to 16, responded to the call from Toby Wilsher, writer and director of a 20-minute show, called Arrivals And Departures, about their home county.

They rehearsed hard every Sunday for two months to ensure everything went without a hitch. And it was worth the toil.

The show was staged in a giant cloth tent inside the Dome on Wednesday. It was based on people from previous centuries and the present day who have passed through West Sussex.

There were segments on Roman, Saxon and Norman invaders, Gatwick Airport and pensioners retiring to the seaside.

The cast managed three identical performances during the day in a 500-seat arena.

Students used dance, mime, masks, recorded music and 12ft puppets, each operated by four pupils, to get their message across.

Toby, 41, said: "We sent letters out to school drama staff all across the county and invited pupils for auditions.

"In the end, we decided to put everyone who came along into the show. There is a constant ebb and flow of people on stage."

Steve Cooper, 14, of Weald School in Billingshurst, played an Australian traveller passing through Gatwick.

He said: "It has been fantastic. I loved the technical side of it. It was quite nerve-wracking before we went on."

Fellow airport passenger Rosie Ives, 11, of Warden Park School in Cuckfield, said: "It has been really fun, but a bit scary."

Other schools involved included: Durrington Middle School, Worthing High School, Chatsmore Catholic High School, Davison High School, Chesswood Middle School, Broadwater First and Middle School in Worthing; Bognor Community College; Felpham Community College; Hazelwick School and Thomas Bennett Community School in Crawley; Forest Boys' School and Millais School in Horsham; Imberhorne School and Sackville Community College in East Grinstead; St Philip Howard School in Barnham; Steyning Grammar School; Ryden Intermediate School in Storrington; St Paul's School in Haywards Heath; Oakmeeds Community School in Burgess Hill; Manhood School in Selsey; and Downlands School in Hassocks.