LUCKY youngsters from four schools in the borough are about to have a picnic with a sultan and his amazing time-travelling elephant.

Pupils from Chingford CE Junior School, Henry Maynard Infant School, Kelmscott Secondary School and Rush Croft Secondary School will take their place as young ambassadors' to the sultan at the picnic in St James' Park, tomorrow.

The picnic is just one of a number of events organised by the London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT).

As a way of helping the sultan to learn about life in 21st Century Waltham Forest, the children from each school have been busy filling time capsules with objects, letters, drawings, mementoes and photos.

And at 1pm two young ambassadors from each school will present their gifts to the sultan at a ceremony in Horse Guards Parade.

The sultan will carry these gifts with him on his journey throughout the world and during his travels through time. The sultan's elephant is taller than Admiralty Arch and heavier than Nelson's column and is an amazing piece of free standing theatre guaranteed to stop the traffic on its way through the central London traffic.

LIFT is an international arts learning programme.

The Waltham Forest pupils are just some of hundreds of youngsters who were invited to the royal' picnic in the park.

When the youngsters return to school they will produce and illustrate postcards of their city for use as DVDs.