CHILDREN saw their posters used to promote Hate Crime Awareness Week as part of a neighbourhood design competition.

It was run by The Building Bridges Project, led by Tonge Moor United Reform Church (Church at The Centre), various other Tonge Moor organisations and the Tonge Children’s Centre in Starkie Road, Tonge Moor, in which the church is based.

Alison Dalton, a church-related community work minister with The Building Bridges Project, said: "Bolton Safe Partnership encouraged us to raise awareness of hate crime during the week of February 8 to 14, therefore Building Bridges, and others, involved the primary schools, churches, uniformed organisation and other youth groups within Tonge Moor in a poster design competition."

The winners of the contest were Shelby and Alexus from Moorgate Primary School in Entwistle Street, Tonge Moor, and their poster was professionally printed and displayed around Tonge Moor in various community locations during last week's Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Alexus said: "Our class learned a lot about hate crime through this competition and it’s very important."

Shelby added: "We made our poster colourful with paint splashes and it’s fantastic to have won."

The trio of judges felt the calibre of entries was so high that they decided to nominate some runners-up.

They chose posters from Lewis from Castle Hill Primary School in Castle Hill Street, Hall I' Th' Wood; Bolton Youth Council; Castle Hill Young People’s Centre and three entries from Tonge Moor Primary School in Brierwood, Tonge Moor, namely a joint effort from Abi and Millie, an individual design from Haruna and a collective poster devised by the whole of Year 6.

These designs were adapted into a single design for a pop-up banner.

Mrs Dalton said: "There were also two posters that were so informative that we felt they should be turned into leaflets for our intercultural celebration fun day which we are planning for the summer holidays.

"These poster or leaflet designs were submitted by Joyce from Tonge Moor Primary School and a Year 6 student from Castle Hill Primary School."

Following on from the fun day, The Building Bridges Project hopes to develop a community drama production to explore hate crime and its possible consequences, Mrs Dalton said.