SPORTING youngsters from across Bolton put their skills to the test in an annual sports festival.

Hosted by Bolton School, scores of children from 16 schools took part in a bid to throw, hit, catch and spring their way to victory.

The year five and six pupils took part in 23 activities and enjoyed two minutes of play to gain as many points as possible — before taking part in them again when they were given just one minute to notch up the highest score they could.

The activities included dribbling a football or hockey ball through a series of cones, throwing tennis balls into nets, passing netballs and throwing cricket balls towards sets of wickets.

The young sportsmen and women put their “scoring” skills to the test and tried to get a ball into a net or kick it into a high hoop.

Athletics challenges, included a hurdles race as well as a game in which the children had to throw a foam missile ball past a line of cones, then run to collect it.

Thirty-five boys and 27 girls from Bolton School helped co-ordinate the events in the action-packed morning.

Gold medals and the Bolton School Sports Festival Shield went to the boys and girls from Claypool School.

All of the children who took part received participation medals.

Sarah Gorner, a primary liaison co-ordinator at the school, said: “It was great to have so many young people not only involved, but also able to enjoy this competitive event with other local schools.

“The sports festival is a great opportunity for local primary school pupils to get involved with new activities.

"Several members of the accompanying primary school staff commented that it was their favourite event of the year — especially while the sun is shining.”

She added: “All of the pupils had a fantastic time and were very pleased with their medals.

“As ever, our pupils were excellent ambassadors for the school and worked tirelessly all morning to run the individual events.”