A total of 58 Year Six children from Gonville Primary School in Thornton Heath were the first paying customers at Sutton’s new Life Centre – and gave it their seal of approval.

They toured the Life Skills Zone at the building, the first of its kind in the UK, on Friday.

The futuristic zone houses an indoor street resembling a movie set and a multi-media studio capable of 360 degree screen projection to create a wide range of 'virtual worlds' from onrushing trains to threatening gangs.

Teacher Katy Minett said: “I was really impressed with it because the children had a fantastic time and were all engaged and talking about it. On the way home I could tell they’d got a lot out of it.”

The Life Skills Zone puts children in virtually real situations where they are faced with an A-Z of the perils of growing up - tackling everything from drugs, crime and respecting people on public transport to internet safety, bullying and green living to demonstrate what responsibility means and the consequences of people’s actions.

Pupil Donell said: “I had tons of fun. I really enjoyed it when they made the rooms look like streets and train stops. My favourite part was when we were in the visual world. I’d love to go there again!”

And Imaan added: “I thought that the Sutton Life Centre was really cool because everything was in video.”

The Life Centre on Sutton Common Road also houses a community centre, library, a climbing wall and an eco-garden project. It will officially open later this month.

Based on information supplied by Mike Didymus.