A GROUP of youngsters were among the first to catch a glimpse of the UK's first purpose-built theatre for children.

The £13m Unicorn Theatre, Tooley Street, Southwark, opened on December 1 and expects to attract more than 100,000 children a year.

Children from Northend Primary School, Peareswood Road, Slade Green, were among 1,500 who took part in a community initiative from Barclays Bank.

The pupils were invited to see the theatre and its first production, Tom's Midnight Garden, before the venue opened to the public.

Northend's deputy headteacher Gill Cantwell said the visit was the first experience of theatre for many of her pupils.

Unicorn has been creating theatre productions for children aged four to 12 since 1947.

Its new copper-clad theatre was built after a consultation process with a class of eight-year-olds at nearby Tower Bridge Primary School.