A dream came true for a group of schoolchildren when they starred in a film opposite pop idol Kym Marsh.

But instead of a plush studio set, filming took place in the staff room at Hertford Junior School in Hollingdean, Brighton.

Kym, 29, who topped the charts with Hear'Say after winning Popstars and has wowed 40,000 at Brighton's Party in the Park, spent a day filming with pupils.

She helped arrange the film set, let the children choose her costumes and played mum for the day in a 20-minute film called Time Spinner.

There was no limousine for Kym from her luxury home in St Albans where she lives with former EastEnder actor Jack Ryder and her two children, David, ten, and Emily, seven.

She just got on a Thameslink train to be met at Brighton Station.

Kym, along with actress Linda Robson, who stars in Birds of a Feather, and Brighton actor Tom Bevan, were all part of a Film Council project with Lighthouse, Brighton's film and arts training organisation.

Called First Light, it encourages nine to 11-year-olds to get involved with film making.

Kym was perfectly at home as she sat on a bench outside the school hall.

She said: "I have turned down a lot of touring and musicals so I can just concentrate on things I like doing.

"Working on projects like this and encouraging children is great.

"My two children are delighted I am doing something like this.

"It was difficult being in Hear'Say with two children but now life is easier and, despite what people may read or think, I am getting on well with Jack."

Time Spinner is about a young child who lives in a space ship and comes back to earth to experience life in Britain in 2005.

It starred eight-year-old Daniel Gallichan from Worthing Vale School, who plays Greg, and nine-year-old Rhianna McGreey, from Elm Grove Primary School, Brighton, who plays an alien called Rosemary.

They film also had child producers and directors under the guidance of award-winning short film maker Joe Tunmer.

Daniel was not star struck as Kym donned a pinny and played his mum while he ate a bowl of spaghetti at the kitchen table for a domestic film scene in the school.

He said: "Kym has been great. She is fun to work with and is very professional.

"She came knowing all her lines and she has been chatting and taking an interest in us all.

"I definitely want to be an actor when I grow up."

His mother Elaine, 44, who was acting as his chaperone for his day of stardom, said: "He has really enjoyed it.

"This has been an excellent project for him and all those participating."

The film will have its premier at the Duke of York's Cinema, Brighton, later this year.