WANSTEAD students set wheels in motion this week when Blue Peter descended on a school to film an upcoming episode.

Wanstead Church School, in Church Path, had a brush with fame when Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton rolled in to film a feature on biofuels.

In exchange for recycled vegetable cooking oil to fuel the 14 mile car journey to the BBC studios in Shephard’s Bush, Helen tried her hand as a dinner lady, serving food from the school cafeteria at lunch time.

The school who uses vegetable oil only once a week in adherence to strict government school lunch guidelines, were only too glad to do their bit to help in the biofuel research.

Head Teacher Peter Lewis said: “It was a fabulous opportunity for children to meet a Blue Peter presenter and to take part in the filming.

“The children are always interested in green issues so it was great as this increased their awareness on the environment.”

Head Cook Kim Dean said: “The children always want to get involved in activities so this was fantastic.

"We usually just have a normal lunch but it was fantastic having Blue Peter around.”