PRIMARY school children enjoyed a nature lesson with a difference when they watched penguins perform for the cameras.

The penguins were taking part in the filming of a scene for Our Zoo, a BBC drama about the Mottershead family, who established Chester Zoo in the 1930s.

The filming took place on the High Street in Great Budworth, one of the locations chosen for the series due to be screened in late 2014.

The children attend Great Budworth Primary School, which was also chosen as a location, and the whole school was invited to watch the penguins being filmed.

“The children were amazed when they saw all the penguins,” said head teacher Sandra Finney.

“I couldn’t believe how small the penguins were. They were quite naughty, and wouldn’t do what they were told.”

The children were allowed to have a closer look at the penguins in a pen, and chatted with actors Lee Ingleby, Anne Reid and Ralph Little.

The school hall and corridors were used during filming at the school.

Mum Debbie Bailey watched the penguins perform during her school run.

Debbie lives in Wincham, and her children Matthew, seven, and Grace, four, attend Great Budworth Primary School.

“It was a surreal sight – you don’t normally see penguins on the school run,” said Debbie.