MORE than 100 young competitors from across West Dorset pulled on their PE kit and took to track and field in a festival of athletics in Dorchester.

Active year three pupils from several primary schools flocked to the Thomas Hardye School playing fields for the West Dorset School Sports Partnership event.

The organisation arranges similar festivals covering a wide variety of sports and activities for schools in and around the county town every term.

Around 120 boys and girls from Puddletown First School, Milborne St Andrew First School, Broadmayne First School, Frome Valley First School and Piddle Valley First School took part in the athletics extravaganza.

They were joined by older students from both Dorchester Middle School and the Thomas Hardye School, who helped by acting as team leaders for the day.

The Year 3 pupils were split into teams, who tried out various activities and sports specially adapted for younger competitors.

And the weather was kind to organisers with the arena bathed in sunshine as the youngsters battled it out in events such as soft javelin, standing long jump, relay runs and speed bouncing.

The West Dorset School Sports Partnership is a group of 68 primary, middle and secondary schools working together to develop PE and sport opportunities for young people in the area.

School sports co-ordinator Demelza Roberts, who is based at the Thomas Hardye School and St Mary's Middle School in Puddletown, said the partnership organised the events to keep youngsters active.

"We hold these festivals every term.

"For this one we designed an adapted athletics event, set up so the events suited the kids' abilities and their age group.

"It's all about promoting sport and promoting festivals in particular. It doesn't always have to be competitive festivals.

"It's also about promoting the links between the schools, which are already very strong anyway."