Youngsters have showcased their talents at the Whitehaven Musical Festival this week.

Performers are treading the boards at the 69th annual festival, held at the town’s Marchon Club.

The festival features entrants from across West Cumbria, taking part in a selection of singing, instrumental, and speaking classes.

Victoria Junior School and Victoria Infant & Nursery School in Workington were triumphant in the children’s choir classes yesterday.

The infant and nursery school scooped the The Lancashire Constabulary Trophy and The William Lancaster Memorial Trophy. Year five and six pupils from the junior school won The Committee Trophy and year three and four pupils were awarded The Hogarth Trophy. The juniors also scooped The Glee Star Trophy.

Pauline Robertson, executive headteacher, said: “I’m delighted with the comments the judge made and the level of singing the young people have been able to achieve for such young voices.”

Derwent Vale Primary School, of Great Clifton, won the Booth Trophy for junior hymn singing.

Heather Greer, early years teacher, said: “We are very happy and excited. We have had a lovely morning. We are a very small school so we try and encourage as much of the school to sing in the choir as we can. They have worked very hard. We are very proud of them.”

The Harriet Malone Singers, of Whitehaven, scooped the Chamber of Trade and Commerce Trophy.

“We are delighted to have won,” Harriet said. “They have worked really hard.

“Thank you to the festival organisers for putting on a really good festival.”

Orgill Primary School, of Egremont, performed ‘This Is Me’ and ‘Fight Song’ , using British Sign Language.

Molly Edgar, Key Stage Two teacher, said: “We feel quite strongly about it at Orgill. We do have some children who have hearing impairments. We learn French, we learn German, but not many children know sign language.

“We thought it was a good skill to teach children. They love learning it and pick it up really quickly.

“I’m really proud. It’s lovely to see how they have grown and gained lots of confidence.”

Marilynne Davies, adjudicator, said: “There’s lots of good things going on here in Whitehaven.

“I have been very impressed by the way the young people have been prepared to come and perform. There’s some very good teaching going on.

“I’m impressed by the way they are responding to the various trends in music. To have this X Factor class is fabulous.

“All these are classes that have been put on in response to the changing styles of music. Not every festival is responding in this way so it’s very good to see.

“The standard has been high. It’s good to see the schools supporting the festivals and headteachers have to be thanked for making it possible.

“I’m having a ball. This is a festival which listens to suggestions. I think it’s a listening festival. There have been a lot of imaginative classes put in. I’ve not come across an X Factor evening before. They put them alongside what I call more traditional classes and that’s what it has to be like.

“I’ve got nothing but praise. I’m quite excited and exhilarated by the whole experience.

“I’m very impressed because Whitehaven is not a big town. I think it punches above its size.

“It is all run by volunteers which says its got heart in Whitehaven. I like the way it is responding and coming into the 21st century and doing things that are popular.

“This is a buoyant festival going forward.”