Chart-topping singer Kimberley Walsh stunned pupils at a school radio launch by making a guest appearance with her sister Sally.

The Girls Aloud star, and former pupil at Beckfoot School, Bingley, who is pictured with some of the youngsters, wowed the 150-strong crowd last night by talking to the new Beckfoot station's presenters and spending an hour wandering around the evening's attractions.

Assistant head teacher Mike Breeze said the surprise appearance had been "exciting" for everyone involved.

"The pupils have been following her progress on Pop Stars: The Rivals and its been avidly watched and everyone's been supporting her and has been right behind her," he said.

"Obviously we've had the Walsh family here at the school and they both turned up last night. It was really, really well received."

Youngsters at the school will be broadcasting the latest tunes and celebrity chat after the launch of the station, Pyschedelic Sounds, which was also attended by Bradford City star Wayne Jacobs and Galaxy 105 DJ Jo-Jo.

Partygoers skated along to the music after a synthetic ice rink was installed in the school's main hall.

A group of about 15 pupils have put together the station, which will initially broadcast every Friday lunchtime through the public hall speakers.

If successful, the youngsters hope to extend the station's broadcasting hours to fill a daily slot.

The station is thought to be the first at a Bradford school and programmes will include album and singles charts, interviews and music reviews.

Headteacher David Horn thought the idea was so imaginative he granted £2,000 from the school's funds towards its development.

"I think what this group of pupils have achieved is absolutely phenomenal," he said. "The pupils have taken the initiative and I back it 100 per cent.

"They've learnt a great deal and we as a school are very proud of them all."

A range of computerised radio software has been purchased and auditions were held to choose the radio's team, which includes presenters, interviewers, technicians, designers and jingle creaters. Pupil Richard Fearnside, 15, a member of the team, said: "Getting this station off the ground has been a long journey and we never imagined the project would be this big when we began."

Money raised at last night's event is being put towards the station's future development and towards a student trip to Malawi in Africa next year.