Children at a Keighley primary school have made an impassioned plea for world peace.

Pupils at Holycroft were so moved by the prospect of war in Iraq that they set up their own peace group.

And MP Ann Cryer -- a staunch opponent of the conflict -- was invited to the school to discuss with the youngsters the issues involved and answer questions.

The peace group, established by 11-year-olds Daisy Dooks and Ella Barker, met at lunch times daily in the build up to, and during, the war.

Over a dozen pupils from years five and six were involved.

This week two members, Louise Soothill and Shabnam Shabir, wrote to the Keighley News about the group and the visit of Mrs Cryer, and called for a lasting peace. Their letter is reproduced on the right.

Holycroft head teacher Andrew Neal said he was extremely proud of all the pupils. He said: "The idea for the peace group came directly from the children.

"During the build up to the war we had an assembly when our thoughts went out to children in Iraq and we lit a candle.

"Later some pupils who were extremely concerned about the situation approached me and asked what we could do as a school.

"I asked them what they wanted to do and they came back with the idea of starting a peace group.

"They then met regularly to discuss, in a very mature and sensible way, the many different aspects of the conflict.

"As part of this they wrote various letters and Louise sent a letter to the MP voicing her opposition to war, and subsequently invited Mrs Cryer to the school.

"The visit included a session when the children asked some very good and searching questions. The level of debate was really high. I am very proud indeed of the children. They felt strongly about the issues involved and organised themselves in a very responsible manner," he said.

Mrs Cryer said: "I don't remember ever getting a letter of this kind from any school, let alone a primary -- it was very impressive," she said.

"The standard of the debate when I visited the school was of the highest order. The pupils each asked their own questions, and they were very well thought out and searching questions -- I really had to think hard about some of the answers."

The Letter

Dear Keighley News

My name is Louise and my friend's name is Shabnam. I am 10 years old and Shabnam is 11. We are both in year six at Holycroft Primary School and do not like war.

Our concern is peace! We hate the photographs in the news that show people dying, but everyone must learn the truth about war.

When the war was decided, Ella and Daisy (my friends) started an anti-war group. Many children joined this group, including Shabnam and me. We discussed the war and other matters. In one session, we were writing letters and I finished mine.

Daisy, the group leader, posted it to Ann Cryer and within a week I received a reply from her. At the bottom of the letter was some hand-written writing saying she would like to come to our school.

I invited her to our school and a date was set.

On Friday 9th of May 2003, Ann Cryer and her partner, John, came to our school. Shabnam and I opened the door and led her to Mr Neal's, our headteacher's, office.

We went back to our class and Mr Neal showed her around school. Half an hour later we all met in the ICT suite and discussed all the matters of war and asked questions. We ended the discussion with a poem written by Mrs Jackson, our administrator.

Our peace group wants a lasting peace in the area. We hope that the people of Iraq recover, even though some things will never heal.

Yours sincerely

Louise and Shabnam