CONCENTRATION filled the air recently, as pupils from six schools competed in a tense chess tournament.

More than 60 pupils from North Tawton, South Tawton, Hatherleigh, Bridestowe, Exborne and Northlew and Ashbury primary schools took part in the event, which involved a team tournament and an individuals' tournament, held at North Tawton Community Primary School.

In the day-long event, South Tawton Primary were the overall winners of the team tournament, with teams from North Tawton primary winning second and third place.

North Tawton triumphed in the individuals' tournament with two of its year six pupils, Kerri Reynolds and Jake Whittaker, coming out on top.

Tim Onions, a teacher at North Tawton Primary school, chess enthusiast and organiser of the event, said: 'It was a really good day and the children all enjoyed themselves.

'We often have events between the local schools like hockey or football matches, and when I joined the school with my chess influence, we decided to hold a chess competition.

'There were quite a few younger players in the competition and a lot of the children's chess standards improved quite a bit just from throughout the day.

'This is the third or fourth time we've held the competition and we hope to hold it again next year.'