CHILDREN from a Basingstoke junior school scooped a fantastic podium finish after taking to the stage in a regional dance and drama competition.

The pupils, from Park View Junior School, in Pinkerton Road, South Ham, finished third in Rock Challenge after performing a short routine at Southampton Guildhall.

The performance, titled Breaking Down the Wall, looked at the changing role of women over the last 100 years and included music from Bonnie Tyler and Queen.

Girl power from the swinging sixties to the 1990s was played out by the 38-strong team, and there was a cameo from a Margaret Thatcher character.

One of the organisers, Year 3 teacher Fiona Carr, said the judges were full of praise for the children.

She told The Gazette: “The pupils really enjoyed it. Their confidence just shone all the way through but I was also delighted with the way they went up and congratulated the winners at the end. The judges said our show was very well put together and rehearsed, which was lovely.”

The school also picked up the Positive Inclusion and Best Staging awards.

This is the second year the school has taken part in the competition after an Olympics-themed performance last year.