PUPILS at a Southampton school experienced democracy in action when they went to the polls to elect their new house captains.

As part of their citizenship studies, youngsters at Oakwood Junior School in Lordswood conducted a secret ballot to choose captains for four houses named after the P&O cruise liners, Aurora, Adonia, Oceana, and Oriana.

Candidates, three for each house, had already given their election speeches and now face a nail-biting wait as the votes are counted.

Head teacher Alison Langrish, said: "The house captains will be promoting good behaviour and achievement throughout the school by coming up with initiatives to inspire and reward pupils.

"We decided to use the authentic polling booths and run our election process identically to local government elections because we felt it would give the children the opportunity as part of their citizenship studies to be exposed to what goes on in a real life election."