YOUNG guitarists from Bolton School have walked away with a top prize.

The guitar has been taught at the school for several years by Jeremy Bleasdale, with students meeting to practise in their lunch hour.

This year, for the first time, the group of 15 boys and two girls who make up the Bolton School Senior Guitar Ensemble decided to enter a national competition.

The pupils entered the Kirklees National Guitar Orchestra Competition in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, with Mr Bleasdale conducting a 15-minute programme ranging from music by The Kinks to jazz and classical Spanish.

The group, who were loaned instruments for the event by Bolton music shop Booths, were up against 12 other orchestras from around the country.

Their efforts impressed the judges and the group of students, aged 13 to 18, walked away with the top trophy plus £500 for the school's music department.

Mr Bleasdale said: 'We were not expecting to win because it was our first competition. We are delighted."