They could be the next big thing to explode onto the pop scene - but this week all-girl band Atomic Kitten went back to school.

The trio strutted their stuff at Basildon's De La Salle school and left fans purring with excitement.

The three-piece are being dubbed the next Spice Girls and certainly lived up to the tag.

The girls,all 19 years old and signed to Virgin Records, sang two songs to an ecstatic audience of about 250 pupils, before signing autographs and dishing out kisses to the lads.

It is not the first time the pupils from the Ghyllgrove school have cheered on fledgling pop stars.

Successful boy bands Westlife and Another Level both played at the school in their early days. Mike Beecher, the school's head of music, is one convert to the girls' cause.

He said: "They are going to get somewhere - there's no doubt about it. They've got a lot of energy and good songs."

Kissing kittens - Kerry Katona, Liz McLarnon and Natasha Hamilton meet the fans at De La Salle

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

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