ROCK star Nick Cope is more used to playing to crowds of thousands of screaming fans rather than noisy young children.

But the former lead singer of Oxford band The Candyskins has now set up his own Rock School, running music and movement classes for youngsters at Iffley Montessori School, in Oxford.

The father-of-three, who performed with his old line-up at Truck Festival this year, describes his self-penned tracks as folk-based songs for children and families.

He said: “I get a good reaction from the children and I hear back from the parents that they are singing them at home.

“Some of the children have been on YouTube – there are videos of me playing to kids and then our video for Feed It during the 1990s where I’m in a space suit in California – and they get a bit confused.”

The Candyskins were one of Oxford’s best-known bands during the 1990s and played a farewell gig on New Year’s Eve, 2001, at The Zodiac.

Mr Cope, 44, also runs music and movement sessions for pre-school children every Friday at East Oxford Community Centre, Princes Street.

His new CD, What Colour Is Your T-shirt?, is available at nickcope.co.uk