THE first Bolton teams have won through to next year's Greater Manchester School Games.

Bolton School Junior Girls and Cleveland Preparatory Boys won the Year 4/5 Bolton School Games primary schools swimming gala, while St Matthew's triumphed in the Year 5/6 Bolton School Games basketball competition.

Their victories saw the three teams qualify for the GM School Games which will be held in March.

Nine schools competed in the swimming gala – Bolton School junior girls, St Brendan's, St Mary's, St Matthew's, Highfield, Markland Hill, St Thomas of Canterbury, Cleveland Preparatory and Horwich Parish.

The gala was supported by Total Fitness Bolton and Becky Adlington swim stars and was organised by Brian Richardson from St Joseph's High School and Bernadette O'Hare from Thornleigh Salesian College.

Twelve schools took part in the basketball competition at St Joseph’s where St Matthew's met Markland Hill in the final.

The event was officiated by Alan Bannister, from Horwich Locos Basketball Club, and Richard Flanagan and Morgan Crouch from St Joseph’s.