THE future of Rock Challenge events across the country appears to be in doubt as competitions are postponed.

Schools from the Bournemouth area were due to compete at the Pavilion Theatre on Monday but organisers moved the date to March at the last minute.

Other venues due to stage the spectacular competition have also seen last-minute changes and the organisation behind the event has refused to comment on whether events will go ahead at all.

Thousands of school children across the UK take part in Rock Challenge events every year, produced by the worldwide Be Your Best Foundation.

Teams of students spend months preparing for powerful stage shows to reflect the foundation's message that young people can get a natural high from performance and don't need drugs or alcohol.

They produce an eight-minute performance on a subject of their choice and are involved in everything from set design and costumes to make-up, acting and lighting.

Rock Challenge UK is based in Portsmouth and, when contacted by the Daily Echo, a spokesman said: "Our Executive Producers are on their way from Australia and we can't comment until they get here.

"They are preparing something for the press."

Last year performers from Bournemouth's LeAF Studio swept aside competition from 324 secondary schools across England and Scotland to lift the coveted national title. A team of 120 travelled from Bournemouth to Yorkshire for the national final and were thrilled to be named as winners.

The studio school is currently taking a break from Rock Challenge.

Dozens of schools from across Dorset and Hampshire take part every year, investing hundreds of hours of their time, both during school hours and in the evenings and weekends.