PUPILS at a Radcliffe primary school earned top marks when they were named among the winners of a national art competition aimed at promoting racial equality and diversity in schools.

The group from Gorsefield Primary, in Robertson Street, were crowned winners in the primary artwork category of the 2015 Arts & Minds competition, organised by teachers' union the NASUWT, for their piece 'Diversity'.

Pupils Leam Shaw and Ashraf Kamal, aged 11 and nine, collected their prizes at a ceremony in London last Friday, alongside their parents and teachers Neil Corkery and Andrea Martin.

Mrs Martin said: "Mr Corkery runs the art club every week for an hour after school. Eight children attended the art club and their piece took about six weeks to create.

"It was a collection of individual pencil drawings of people, places, places of worship and food outlets that were put together in a collage by the children to show the diversity nature of our community and Gorsefield's philosophy of inclusion.

"Leam and Ashraf both reported that our trip to London was amazing and their favourite part was the fabulous hotel."

They also enjoyed a tour of the Houses of Parliament with Bury South MP Ivan Lewis, as well as trips to landmarks including the London Eye and Buckingham Palace.

Karen Hopwood, NASUWT Bury Negotiating Secretary, said: “Congratulations to the pupils of Gorsefield who clearly worked hard on the artwork and achieved their success against highly creative work from schools throughout the UK. Leam and Ashraf were a credit to the school and their parents throughout the trip.

"I would also like to thank their art teacher Neil Corkery for the dedication and commitment that he demonstrates in developing art in the school and to Andrea Martin for giving up her time to accompany the pupils to London."

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, added: “Every entry was highly creative and clever in its interpretation of the messaging behind the competition, so the judges had great difficulty in choosing the winners."