YOUNG gymnasts displayed their prowess in a series of testing exercises in true Olympic fashion.

Teams of four from eight local primary schools competed in the event, organised by students at Durham Sixth Form Centre.

All members of each quartet had to compete on vault, floor, beam balance and trampette, with judges giving them marks from ten in each discipline.

Despite occasional brief showers all the events took place outdoors, in the grounds of the sixth form centre, on the Durham Sands.

Once the results were tallied up, the quartet from Pittington Primary School came out on top, with 142 points from a possible 160, eight ahead of silver medallists St Hild's Primary, and 14 clear of St Godric's RC Primary, which took bronze.

The individual placings followed suit as Emma Gibson, of Pittington, emerged as gold medallist, with Angela Fynn of St Hild's taking silver and the bronze going to Jessica Hanley, of St Godric's.

Norman Ferguson, head of PE at the sixth form centre, said the standard of competition was very high.

"There were some really talented gymnasts out there and they gave it their all, even though they had to dodge the odd shower."

Leisure and tourism students at the sixth form centre arranged the event as part of their course work.

Other students gave up their time by helping to officiate as part of the centre's community leadership awards scheme