CINEMA technology similar to that used in Hollywood blockbuster Avatar has been brought into a hospital's classroom.

The 3D method may date back to the '50s, but it is proving a hit with modern-day teenagers studying how the body works at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

A total of 60 youngsters don special dark glasses at lectures twice a week to watch three-dimensional images of beating hearts, eyes, fingers, kidneys and other organs come to life.

They are benefiting from the latest teaching aid as part of their Btec studies in health and social sciences.

Already many of them have been so fired up watching the images they want to pursue careers as nurses, doctors, midwives or other carers.

The 14 and 15-year-olds can revolve, manipulate and zoom in and out of the images to study just about every function of the organs.

The 3D classes are in the Hartshill complex's learning and skills academy, which teaches a wide variety of students from basic first aid for children to doctors who need their skills updating.

The technology has been funded by £18,000 from the hospital's budget and now its twin projectors and cameras are to be used to shoot new 3D footage.

Yesterday it was the was turn of pupils from four high schools; Clough Hall, in Kidsgrove, James Brindley, in Chell, St Thomas More Catholic College, in Longton, and Thistley Hough, in Penkhull – to use the training aid.

Thistley Hough student Abby Burgess, aged 14, of Hartshill, who wants to become a midwife, said: "When I watched Avatar at the pictures I never guessed that soon I would also be wearing 3D glasses in class as well.

"But it's fantastic to see the heart actually beating and it looks so close you can almost reach out and touch it."

St Thomas More College pupil Vicky McQuillan, aged 14, from Weston Coyney said: "This really brings lessons to life and beats reading about medicine in a text book.

"It is really helping my studies and I now want to be a midwife, or care for disabled people."

Project support manager Natasha Mills said: "It's great to see the air of excitement when the students first put their 3D glasses on.

"They may all play the latest computer games at home but this is giving them a buzz."

Ian Carruthers, education and training manager, added: "This relatively old technology is bringing learning to life in a way that is firing up young minds.

"It is too soon to see if it is having an effect on results, but it's certainly brought a new dimension to their education."

Andrew Plowright, 14 to 19 careers team administrator, added: "It's great to see the excitement on the faces of the children when the 3D images are coming towards them and know that they are enjoying learning."