CHILDREN should be seen and not heard, the saying goes.

But a nursery products firm is on the look-out for youngsters who are happy to be heard, but not seen!

Mamas and Papas is searching for children who can bring a new range of toys to life by providing the voices behind their songs and stories.

Nine characters require nine little would-be actors and actresses to create their distinct personalities – a sort of Toy Story 3.

The toys will include farm yard animals, jungle animals, cars, boats and planes.

The Colnebridge-based company is seeking youngsters who have a talent when it comes to making funny noises, going “moo” or imitating car engines!

Mamas and Papas is holding open auditions during next week’s half-term holiday.

The auditions are open to all six to 13-year-olds across Yorkshire and will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday at the firm’s head office on Colne Bridge Road, Huddersfield. Š

Successful children will then be invited to attend a professional recording studio in Huddersfield from 9am to 6pm on February 21 and 22 to rehearse their scripts and immortalise their characters forever.

The toy range, including the talking characters, will be launched in time for Christmas.

Nigel Plested, design director for Mamas & Papas, said the company had already developed a Baby Play range of toys using adult voices – and said finding the correct voice was all-important.

“Our Baby Play toy range has been an award-winning international success story and the voices of those characters were all recorded in Huddersfield in 2006,” he said.

“As we continue to grow our toy ranges we would like to invite young local talent to bring life to our new project – bringing fun, humour and really interesting sounds and voices to the characters.

“We are looking for all sorts of accents and pronunciations to make each character really different. Children have unusual ways of saying things and we want to capture those special vocal qualities.”

He added: “Like any successful character, it is the voice that makes them unique – and we know there are some budding actors out there that would like to help out!”

Parents can secure an audition for their children by sending their contact details and information on their mini-performers by e-mail to singalong@mamasandpapas.com.