PUPILS left adults lost for words when they took part in a Primary School Youth Speaks Festival.

Four schools took part in the public speaking event organised by the Rotary Club of Ramsbottom.

Adults and teachers packed the library of Woodhey High School, in Ramsbottom, to listen to teams of three from Hazlehurst Primary School, Ramsbottom, Holcombe Brook Primary, Edenfield CE Primary School, and St Joseph's RC School, Ramsbottom.

They spoke on topics ranging from transport issues, healthy eating, oil pollution and the changing role of women since the mid-1900s.

Rotarian Peter Clare said: "We tried to model the festival as close to the senior public speaking competition without it actually being a competition.

"Each team had a chairman, a speaker and a person giving the vote of thanks. All the teams were so confident and even though the youngsters said they were nervous, they certainly didn't show it."

Ramsbottom Rotary Club decided to stage the borough's first Primary School Youth Speaks Festival after hearing of its success in the Isle of Man.

Mr Clare said: "Teams from the Isle of Man always seem to come in the top three of the senior public speaking competition in this Rotary district. This, it seems, is because children are starting public speaking at a younger age."

He told how the 12 youngsters left the audience of adults and teachers speechless with their confidence.

"They were so confident and presented their arguments clearly. The feedback we have had from the schools that took part was very positive and because it fits in the with the national curriculum, I really think the festival will grow in future years," said Mr Clare.

Each team was presented with a certificate and book token.

"If we had run this event as a competition, I would have found it very hard to pick an overall winner, they were all very good," Mr Clare said.