More than 700 youngsters pushed each other to the limits at the Cumbria School Games yesterday.

Pupils competed in golf, tennis, netball, orienteering, hockey, table football, table tennis and boccia competitions in the last of four county finals to have taken place this year.

Points accumulated from the three previous events and counted towards total scores.

Team Allerdale finished fourth behind Carlisle, Eden and champions Furness after a gruelling programme of events held across sports venues in Carlisle.

Richard Johnston, of Active Cumbria, said: “The students who took part today represented their areas with pride and enthusiasm.

"The various venues in Carlisle were hives of competition and there was a real sense of enjoyment among those taking part.

"The sheer enthusiasm shown at the closing ceremony was certainly a testament to that.

"Organising an event such as today and the other competitions that take place through the year takes a lot of dedication.

"I would like to thank all the student volunteers, staff and parents who contribute so much to the success of the school games.

"Our school games organisers undertake work every week to help support schools in these sports and without them the students would not have the level two competitions that enable them to qualify to take part in these countywide events today."

Teams qualified for the finals in a series of local competitions and the day was an opportunity for many of the children to experience a major multi-sport event for the first time.

Events were held at the Sands Centre, Bitts Park, Chatsworth Tennis Club, Austin Friars School, Rickerby Park and the Sheepmount.

Nationally, the programme is backed by National Lottery funding administered through Sport England.

The county finals events are delivered and developed by the local organising committee supported by Active Cumbria, the Sport and Physical Activity Partnership, which are part of Cumbria County Council’s Health and Well-being Service and is made possible through local qualifying competitions organised by six district school games organisers.