A 320-SEAT theatre has been unveiled to excited staff and students at a Widnes college.

Cronton Sixth Form celebrated the grand opening of its Playhouse Theatre with a performance performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical, The Phantom of the Opera.

The impressive theatre is home to the very latest technology, with an advanced technical booth, offering new spectacular effects and high impact sound.

The official opening was honoured by two erformances from West End stars Carl Sanderson; who appeared as the Phantom in the West End, and the Patron of the Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts, Zoe Curlett, who has performed as Christine in the famous musical.

Zoe then went on to officially open the new Cronton Playhouse with a ceremonial unveiling of the plaque.

Matt Plant, head of the centre of excellence for performing arts said: "The Cronton Playhouse is the product of a great deal of team work with students and staff over the years.

"We are hugely grateful to all of our talented past students whose time and dedication to our projects went some way in enabling us to have this wonderful venue.

"The Phantom of the Opera production was an enormous success and a fitting beginning to our new performing arts journey in our brand new theatre.

"We are now looking forward to start work on our next major production of A Chorus Line which will take place at the Cronton Playhouse on June 26 and 27."