Pupils from Baxenden Primary School pitted their wits against the county’s best when they represented Hyndburn at the 10th annual SPAR Lancashire Youth Games gymnastics county finals.

Teams representing 20 schools from across Lancashire took part in the finals at Hyndburn Leisure Centre.

Although Hyndburn were unable to gain any medals they were still able to meet the Mayor and Burnley’s former gold medal-winning gymnast Craig Heap.

VIPs from across the county also attended the county finals to cheer on their local teams, including representatives from Lancashire Sport Partnership and the event sponsors, James Hall & Company Ltd, SPAR distributor for the North of England.

The county finals represent the pinnacle of school sport in the county, with talented young competitors having fought off strong competition to represent their district at county level.

The events are organised by Lancashire School Sport Partnerships competition managers and Lancashire Sport Partnership, the strategic County Sports Partnership for Lancashire.

James Hall & Co director Dominic Hall said: "I would like to personally congratulate all the schools which have made it through to the county finals and wish all the young people taking part every success.

"We are delighted to be sponsoring the Youth Games and the Star School Awards for the fifth year running.

"It is an important part of our local community involvement programme and we are very proud to play a part in promoting community sport across the North West."

The Youth Games programme has been expanded again this year to include 112 district finals and nine county finals, including a special schools’ swimming gala and the SPAR Lancashire Disability Youth Games.

The events will bring together more than 10,000 pupils from hundreds of primary schools across 14 local authority districts.

Adrian Leather, chief executive of Lancashire Sport Partnership, added: "The county finals are a great opportunity for us to showcase some of the fantastic talent we have in our local schools.

"With the 2012 Olympics on the horizon supporting grassroots talent should be a priority across the county."

The 2011 programme will conclude with the SPAR Lancashire Disability Youth Games at Blackpool Sports Centre on Friday, July 8.