CALSTOCK Primary School pupils Caitlin, 11 and Ellie and Kaya, 10, were the overall winners of the district final of Rotary International's 'Junior Youth Speaks' public speaking competition at Bodmin College recently.

The team had already come through the local and area heats at Callington and were delighted to reach the final.

This was an exceptional achievement for the girls as the Rotary Club district covers West Devon and Plymouth as well as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

In addition Caitlin, 11, was awarded the individual prize as the best chairperson. Ellie's talk was on the subject of the charity Water Aid and Kaya proposed the vote of thanks. They all spoke with confidence, enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of their subject.

In presenting the trophy,?Rotarian Maxine Stoyel, district governor, said how impressed she was that the standard of Youth Speaks, particularly at the junior level, had risen dramatically each year and praised the passion and pace of all the presentations.

Headteacher Jan Gould said: 'We are very proud of the girls. They have demonstrated what a wealth of talent there is at Calstock School. This is the first time our school has been involved so this is a particularly impressive result.

'Our thanks go to their teacher, Mrs Congdon, for her help and encouragement and to Mr Mike Gill from

Callington Rotary Club for his advice.'