School pupils got a taste of political life following a visit from an MP and councillor.

Year 5 pupils at Springfield Community Primary School welcomed Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham and Burnley Borough Councillor Jamie McGowan to their school as they learnt about what it is like to be a politician.

The morning was full of questions and answers as the MP explained how Parliament worked and then acted as Speaker of the House for a Parliamentary debate.

Speaking about the visit local MP Antony Higginbotham said: “It was brilliant to visit Springfield Primary School as part of my school tour.

“And even better to see the children's confidence grow as we got into the mock Parliament.

“I took plenty of questions on a range of topics and want to thank all the staff for the warm welcome.

“I also have to confess to being over the moon when one of the children said they now thought they might like to become a Member of Parliament one day.

“I want every child to reach their full potential, and aim to be the best they can be. Politics feels distant for too many, but these children dived straight in.”

Pupils also quizzed Councillor Jamie McGowan on what a councillor does and his role in supporting an MP.

Class teacher Andrew Douglas said: “We learn about British values but having Antony and Jamie in the classroom has brought this to life and given pupils a deeper understanding of how Parliament works and why voting is important.

“The whole experience was thought-provoking and will give our children a fresh perspective moving forward.”