HUNDREDS of children took to the stage for a spectacular evening of entertainment for the fourth night of this year’s Rock Challenge.

Families packed into the O2 Guildhall in Southampton to watch youngsters in the Junior Round One category.

Children from seven primary schools from around the county battling it out in the competition strutting their stuff on stage in a whirl of talent and colour.

The competition is broken down into six shows – three for secondary schools and colleges and three for primary schools.

Each school showcases its work in eight-minute performances.

A panel of judges looked for top teams for their skills in dance, drama and design.

Lanesend Primary School from the Isle of Wight were crowned winners followed by runners up Colden Common Primary with their vibrant performance entitled ‘Let your dreams take flight’ taking the crowd on an imaginative journey full of iconic imagery.

Bitterne Manor Primary School came in fourth with their piece Sugar Rush using a fun, high energy soundtrack full of popular music to take the audience to Candyland, rounded off with a final image about healthy eating.

Vibrant candy-land costumes were complimented by bright swirling lights and heightened the visuals onstage.

Kings Worthy Primary School place fifth with their performance ‘You're never too old for a story...’ and featured a highlight with the whole cast with the pirates dancing to an epic soundtrack.

Schools scooping the Southampton City Council Award of Excellence for Choreography include Haylands Primary School, St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, St Osmunds Middle School, Colden Common Primary School.

Schools gaining the Pauline Quirke Academy Award of Excellence for Performance Skill were Bitterne Manor Primary School, Sinclair Primary School, Lanesend Primary School, St Osmunds Middle School, Colden Common Primary School.

Baroness Ruth Henig, Patron of the Be Your Best Foundation, which organises the event, said: “It is always very rewarding to see young people across the country continuing to embrace the initiative, flourishing in a 100% drug, tobacco and alcohol free environment and producing spectacular performances on stage. The entertainment provided tonight has been innovative and extremely exciting- a true testament to the months of hard work and commitment put in by all the schools, teachers and communities.”

Winners will be chosen each night to go on to the finals at Portsmouth Guildhall in June where they will get the chance to be named Rock Challenge champions.

The Rock Challenge, an international initiative run by the Be Your Best Foundation, was brought from Australia to the UK by Hampshire police in 1996 to encourage young people away from alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

Now in its 20th year, the popular event reaches out to more than 20,000 young people across the UK aged seven to 18.

The Daily Echo is producing a souvenir edition each day – from tonight until Saturday – featuring the colleges and schools taking part in each show.

Copies are available at the O2 Guildhall Southampton each night or by ringing 023 8042 4777 and asking for the newspaper sales department.

The event is supported by the PQA Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office, Southampton City Council, Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team, Ian Wright Consulting, Radian, HC3S, Hampshire Health Schools and Zeamu Music.

The Daily Echo is producing a souvenir edition each day – from tonight until Saturday – featuring the colleges and schools taking part in each show.

Copies are available at the O2 Guildhall Southampton each night or by ringing 023 8042 4777 and asking for the newspaper sales department.

Rock Performances:

Rock Rehearsals: