YOUNGSTERS from across East Cornwall will battle it out in the annual Rotary Club Youth Speaks competition at Callington Community College later this month.

The public speaking competition will include classes for juniors (7 to 10 years), intermediate (11 to 13 years) and senior (14 to 17 years).

Ten primary schools are expected to take part on February 23 and three teams from Callington Community College will compete for a place in the district round, also being held the following evening at the college.

Youth Speaks is a nationwide competition sponsored by Rotary International.

The national final will be held in Stratford Upon Avon in May.

Each team comprises three members, a chairman, speaker and a proposer.

The teams select their own subjects and are allowed between eight and 15 minutes, dependent upon age group, to introduce, present and summarise their presentation.

Judging takes place at the end of each evening to decide the heat qualifiers for the next round.

A Callington Rotary Club spokesman said Youth Speaks was a fascinating and entertaining event, with a wide range of subjects discussed at a level of confidence and professionalism, which was a great credit to all of the students, parents and schools involved.