DRAMA students from eight Lancashire schools have battled it out in the finals of a road safety competition.

Secondary schools from Longridge, Nelson and Rishton created their own hard-hitting productions to bring to life issues relevant to young drivers and passengers.

Longridge High School, Marsden Heights Community College, Nelson plus Norden High School and Sports College, Rishton took part. Preston Our Lady's Catholic High School won top honours with an engaging piece about speeding, seatbelts, distractions whilst driving, residents' fears and the danger of overloading cars.

The Beats is a multi-agency drama-based education programme, offered to schools by the county council's Safer Travel Team.

GCSE drama students research, develop and perform their own 15-minute piece to year assemblies, parents' evenings and open evenings within their school.

They can also enter a competition to find the most memorable and creative production, with the finalists invited to perform at the Charter Theatre in Preston to find a winner.

This year's performances were judged by representatives from the police, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and the county council.

County Councillor John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “All the students have shown a clear sense of community responsibility for themselves and others, and their creativity has and will help others to stay safe on the roads.”