HASLINGTON Primary School are sportshall athletics county champions.

The Year 5 and 6 pupils qualified for the Cheshire Championships after winning the Crewe and Nantwich Borough final in February.

And they swept aside strong teams from Chester, Macclesfield Borough and Congleton Borough to lift the coveted title, at Frodsham.

Teacher Dave Farmer, who guided the children to glory with the help of parents Nicola Matthews and Wendy Valentine, said: 'It is absolutely brilliant. The children are thrilled to bits to win at the first attempt, and rightly so.

'They have worked very hard and they are such a keen bunch. They have stepped up their training in the past few weeks and had been working with Nicola and Wendy after-school and at lunchtimes. It paid off. We took a full coach of family and friends along, and it was a great occasion.'

The victory was the culmination of months of hard work, trials starting for the competition back in November.

Sportshall athletics tests competitors on a number of indoor track and field disciplines.

Haslington were run close in the Crewe and Nantwich final by Wistaston, but they won the county final by a big margin.

However, due to the complicated scoring system, the 11 boys and 11 girls were still unsure of the result until master of ceremony Keith Hancock announced them as champions at the end.

The news was greeted by delighted cheers. Dave added: 'We knew we were in with a shout but didn't know we had won until the scores were read.

'It was a brilliant moment. I do think that the help of Nicola and Wendy, who coach at Crewe and Nantwich AC, was vital. Many of the kids are involved with the athletics club, and you can see the improvement.'

Haslington clocked up 634 points - more than 30 clear of Darwin Primary School of Northwich in second. Holmes Chapel Primary School represented Congleton Borough in the event.

* Youngsters train at Crewe and Nantwich AC between 6.30-7.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. First session is free. Call 01270 537232 for details.