HIGH schools took part in an awards ceremony after completing a course aimed at exploring community cohesion.

The year 10 pupils from Pleckgate High School, Darwen Moorland High School, St Bede's High School, Blakewater College and Beardwood High School attended a meeting with dignitaries at Blackburn Town Hall.

Over the last six months, Youth Action have worked with over 200 pupils from the schools on the Creative Minds project looking at the issues of community cohesion and inter-faith dialogue by producing creative writing.

Each school produced one winning piece, which consisted of either a poem, short story or lyrics. The entries were judged by an independent panel.

Pupils from St Bede's High School won the competition with their poem, which focused on the role of soldiers in peace-keeping missions across the world.

Katie Tormay, from St Bedes, dubbed the project "a fantastic experience."

All the finalists were presented with a trophy and certificate by mayor Maureen McGarvey.

Amar Abass, chief executive of Youth Action said: "The Creative Minds project has been a great success and the overall response from the participating schools has been very positive."