Pupils at Lidget Green Primary School have been honing their artistic skills as they prepare for Bradford International Festival.

The children have been involved in workshops making costumes for the Lord Mayor's Carnival Parade on June 14.

And they have also been working on pictures for the fantastic art competition being run by the Telegraph & Argus and Education Bradford.

The competition, based on the festival theme of "love", has been devised to get schoolchildren of all ages involved in this year's festival, which will run from June 12 to 22. All the work submitted will go on display in Bradford city centre during the event.

Head teacher Mike Pope said: "The difficulty that schools have is finding more room in the curriculum to develop children's artistic skills.

"The emphasis on literacy and numeracy could to some extent divert the children from developing artistic skills."

The competition will involve youngsters creating paintings or drawings.

The young people who prodcue the best pieces will receive a Sony EJ750 personal CD player worth £69.99, donated by Sunwin House, and art equipment, donated by Probyns stationery and office products, in Bradford.

Schools are being asked to make sure their work is A4 in size and that all entries are received by tomorrow at the latest.

Entries should be sent to Festival Art Competition, c/o Deborah Nicholson, Telegraph & Argus, Hall Ings, BD1 1JR.

For further information ring Graham Cox on (01274) 385553.