THEY may all help put together one of the more famous plays involving a horse, but when it came to racing in Warrington, the war was settled on four wheels.

The cast of hit National Theatre production War Horse came to town on Friday, swapping the stage for the race track during a well-deserved day off at Team Sport, Bank Quay Trading Estate.

In teams of two, 34 cast members battled it out, and in between laps they spoke to the Warrington Guardian about their parts in the critically acclaimed play.

Adapted from Michael Morpurgo's children's novel, the drama centres on farm boy Albert Narracott who follows his beloved horse Joey to war after he is sold to serve with the cavalry in the First World War.

Lee Armstrong plays the lead role of Albert, and had to spend time learning to ride real horses to prepare.

He said: "I had never been horse riding, so I spent a few weeks learning how to ride, and to see how they react to different things.

"Each horse has a different personality so I was using that idea, and having to learn about their different characteristics."

The horse is brought to life by South Africa's Handspring Puppet Company, full scale models made from steel, leather and aircraft cables, that breathe and gallop.

Peter Twose, Tommy Norman and Linford Johnson are the puppeteers who move around Joey, from Foal to half-thoroughbred.

In scenes where Joey is ridden by Albert, the weight totals 24 stone in a hot theatre.

Tommy said: "It's a very physical job.

"The audience response (to the puppet) is what makes it really.

"By the end of rehearsals you need an audience."

Great Sankey resident and former Penketh High School student Graham McKnight plays a carpenter after studying drama at Priestley College.

He said: "I worked for ten years in touring theatre, and this was a completely different experience.

"It's great to be involved in something that's hard-hitting, and we're a great team as well.

Former Coronation Street actress Karen Henthorn plays Rose Narracott, Albert's mum.

She believes the huge success of War Horse on stage is because 'it's about hope, and friendship, and we can all relate to these things'.

Despite being used to a big audience, go-karting was making Karen somewhat giddy, arms aloft as karts screamed past.

"We're in first place, and I never win at this," she added, laughing.

War Horse is on at The Lowry, Manchester, until Saturday.