MORE than 100 schoolchildren from eight schools took part in an indoor athletics competition.

The event at Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham was a Sportshall competition organised by the local School Sports Partnership.

Pupils from Thomas Mills, Leiston Middle School, Debenham High School, Bungay Middle School, Saxmundham Middle School, Halesworth Middle School, Stradbroke High School and Hartismere High School in Eye took part in the under-13 competition.

The winners of the girls’ events, Saxmundham Middle, and the boys’ competition, Halesworth Middle, will now go through to the county championships.

Funding for School Sports Partnerships are under threat from Government cutbacks and Danny Laws, who co-ordinates the local scheme from Leiston High School, said they would be a “massive loss”.

“We run one or two events every week in all sorts of sports. This event, with 120 children taking part, shows how popular this type of school sport is and we’re getting 100% turnouts.

“It doesn’t just involve those taking part. We have volunteers from the community and sixth-formers from Thomas Mills did all the stewarding for this event. It’s a great initiative.”

Sportshall is a national organisation which aims to introduce athletics to young people.