The performance was the culmination of a term's work dedicated to bringing songs into the classroom.

Children from St Paul's School in Paulsgrove, Craneswater Junior and St Jude's Junior School performed alongside cathedral choristers and choral scholars in the first concert in a £30,000 project to musically inspire youngsters.

In the build-up to Tuesday's event, a small team from the Cathedral Choir ran a series of workshops at the schools, leading children in inspirational singing and group vocal sessions.

Sue Beckett, Area Leader for Sing UP! and head of Portsmouth Music Service, said: 'It was a great concert. The children really enjoyed the event.

'They all relished the experience of singing in the cathedral with children from other schools and the choristers.

'I was speaking to teachers and parents afterwards and they all had so many positive things to say about it.

'It was great for everyone involved.'

The project is part of the National Sing UP! campaign and the result of a £30,000 grant awarded to the Cathedral by Music Manifesto, a national campaign to improve opportunities for young people to develop musical interests and skills.

Next term sees the Cathedral's team take the program to a further 12 schools across Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Councillor Eleanor Scott, Portsmouth City Council's member for education, children and young people, praised the initiative. She said: 'I'm a great believer in the value of singing and music in children's lives. It helps them with their confidence and in all other ways with their education.

'It is a very good thing that the faith schools and the Cathedral are doing. They let all the children have a go at something they may not have done otherwise.

'Well done to all the children who took part.'