PRIMARY school pupils put their public speaking skills to the test at Ramsbottom Rotary's Youth Speaks Festival last week.

Seven teams of year six primary pupils from Holcombe Brook, St Joseph's RC, Ramsbottom, and St John with St Mark C of E, took part in the event, which was held at the Red Hall Hotel on Tuesday, June 19.

Each group chose a topic on which a team member then had to provide a six-minute presentation to an audience of almost 100 people.

A panel of adjudicators then questioned each speaker and gave feedback on the team's performance.

Teachers said they were impressed by some of their pupils who were usually quiet in class, but stood up and gave confident performances.

Each participant received a certificate and a USB stick to use for their homework when they move on to high school in September.

Trevor Hoyle, from Ramsbottom Rotary, described the event as 'a wonderful evening' and added: "The performance by these young people was at that age quite extraordinary, well-practised, well-researched and put over to the audience with passion."