Year two pupils at a Workington school teamed up with police to solve a crime and boost their writing and questioning skills.

Youngsters from Victoria Infant School spent a day working with PCSO Rachel Pape.

The school set up a fictional crime scene centered around the theft of two tablet computers. Pupils then had to solve the crime.

Kerri Newton, teacher, said: “It’s not only giving them motivation to write something, it’s encouraging them to work together to solve a problem.

“We want to make writing real for the children. It’s got them hooked.

“The children have been collaborating really well. I like making learning fun for them doing something that’s got them hooked.”

A classroom in the school was cordoned off using police tape at the start of the day.

The activity also encompassed science and maths skills, and the school’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural programme.

Pupils watched videos of CCTV to help them think about the types of question they can ask.

The children used the activity as inspiration for a creative writing project.

PCSO Pape said: “It’s been brilliant. We go into schools to do talks about road safety and stranger danger, but this is the first time we’ve done a crime scene.”