Last updated 19:47, Thursday, 09 October 2008

A WORKINGTON school is celebrating success after receiving glowing praise in a Cumbrian art competition.

In Bloom art: Westfield pupils with their pictures, from front: Roseanne Loy, Matthew Glover and Melissa Dixon, Mia Hucknall, Nathaneal James and Abbie Webster, and Anna Taylor with Bethany Webster

Westfield Primary School was named as a joint winner in the group category for its series of countryside collages.

The competition was organised by Cumbria in Bloom and the awards were presented on Friday evening.

Children from the school and their parents were present at the Lake District Brockhole Visitor Centre, but did not know which award they would receive.

They were then delighted to be presented with a Silver Gilt Award in recognition of their artworks.

Teacher Michelle Richardson was thrilled at the praise given by one of the judges.

She said: “The judge said that when the collection arrived he realised our school had created a new dimension of art.”

It was only the second time that the school had entered the competition, after submitting a series of paintings last year.

Linda Wilson, from the school, added: “We just wondered what would make an impact this time.

“By doing collages we gave other children a chance to do something different.”

The competition attracted entries from 46 schools, who were each asked to submit 10 artworks.

They were displayed in the Brockhole Visitor Centre for a week before the presentation evening took place.

The winner of the best individual award was James Sibbit, 12, of Keswick School.

Silver star individual awards were given to Ben Robinson, five, of Seaton Infant School; David Curran, eight, of St Mary’s Catholic School, Harrington, and Rebecca Smith, 14, of Keswick School.

All winners received art pencils and every child who took part was given a certificate.