'Best day ever': We went on a school trip and met The Rock

The day started as a routine school trip to see the sights of London - and ended with meeting Hollywood superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Pupils from St Gregory Primary School, in Sudbury, Suffolk, had recorded a video on social media in January, asking their idol to persuade head teacher Daniel Woodrow to take them to the new live action Moana film.

Little did they know that the star would go one better, replying with a video promising to hire a cinema - just for them. On Tuesday, he surprised the pupils by throwing in a few extras.

One of the children described it as the "best day ever" and another gave it a solid "100 out of 10" rating.

"It was very exciting because he is a pretty famous celebrity and I was very shocked," said pupil Lottie.

"He was very sweet and kind and saying hello to everybody and doing high-fives.

"[The other students] will be a little bit jealous."

Children from Years 3 and 4 were taken on the surprise school trip to the capital, but it was not until they arrived at the immersive Moana Experience, that they realised what was really happening.

The event at Potters Field Park was organised by Woodrow and Disney, with The Rock signing autographs and taking selfies with the 50-strong group of children and teachers.

As The Rock himself told the BBC, they were "losing their minds, going bonkers and going crazy. It was awesome."

Sophia said she and her friends "knew straight away and got really excited" when they saw "all the Moana stuff", while Lucy said "it was a complete surprise" - which left her "speechless".

And Amelia told the BBC: "We all came across the bridge and were like, 'Are we doing that?' and then our teachers gave us clues.

"When I asked my teacher if that's what we were doing, she wouldn't look at me straight whilst saying no.

"I was like, 'is that actually Dwayne Johnson?'"

During the very special meet-and-greet, The Rock took a video selfie in which he described the pupils as being the "coolest kids in the world".

"These kids are awesome - they're amazing and they're getting good grades and they are listening to their teachers, and that's so cool," he added.

The students also got to explore a Motunui paradise, other activities and Moana-themed food and drink.

There was a replica of Maui's 6m-long hook alongside a recreation of Moana's canoe.

Woodrow said he had grown up watching The Rock during World Wrestling Entertainment fights and was equally as thrilled.

"I am a huge fan and I think The Rock is incredible – I said to him that I had 30 years' of 'thank yous' to pass on to him, but that wasn't the time," he said.

"Moana itself is my daddy-daughter film with my daughter Emma, who is 11 – we watch it on loop and it has made her want to be a marine biologist."

Woodrow added: "He and Disney have given the children the most incredible day and memories that will last a lifetime."

The entire school is expecting to enjoy a private screening of the film - with drinks and sweets paid for by The Rock - later this summer.

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