Guitar Hero, a computer game, could soon be used in classrooms throughout the north-east.

The game allows users to play music like their idols and is to be used by Aberdeenshire Council education bosses as part of an experiment to encourage pupils to become more creative and improve their learning.

The local authority has bought more than 300 Nintendo consoles in the last year at a cost of £100 each.

The funding for Wii and DS games consoles have been split between Learning Teaching Scotland and the council.

Many schools throughout Scotland have tried games consoles but Aberdeenshire is leading the way in exploring how the new technology can be used to aid teaching.

The use of Guitar Hero was first piloted at Elrick Primary School in Westhill where it proved a hit with both pupils and staff.

Head teacher Louise Malcolm told the Press and Journal: "The actual gameplay is just a small part of this. The pupils get to play for a short while in the morning, but then we take a lot of ideas for the game and develop them.

"For example, with Guitar Hero pupils can write about the bands and the characters they have created. If they're on a world tour, we can learn about the different countries they visit.

"There are lots of ways we can expand on this."

She added: "It really gives children a confidence boost and makes them keen to learn more.

"I think everyone has really embraced this, boys and girls. It was obviously a new experience for some of the staff and we have held training events for them.

"But I believe this sort of learning is here to stay."

Officials at Learning and Teaching Scotland welcomed the pilot scheme in Aberdeenshire which also used other games including the role-playing adventure Myst and Dr Kawashima's Brain Training.

A spokeswoman said: "The children could not believe that a game such as Guitar Hero could be used in school, but were tremendously excited and switched on by it being there."