students from Keighley yomped away with the honours in a gruelling Royal Marine challenge.

Oakbank School took the top team and individual prizes in the contest, at Thornton Sports College, in Bradford.

Eight Oakbank pupils went head to head against teams from four other secondary schools in the district, in a range of Commando-style events.

The aim of the venture -- the first of its kind locally -- was to give youngsters a taste of life in the Marines, and to test their mental and physical skills.

A 4km cross country run was followed by a 250-metre indoor row and a memory test.

Oakbank pupils excelled in the run, with Richard Stack winning in 17min 4sec. Tom Bolger was second, Ryan Ettenfield third, Jamie Chambers fourth and Tom Lonsdale seventh.

Rebecca Long was the first girl home and ninth overall, with Emma Drake second girl, Emma Hurtley fourth girl and Kayleigh Barnes fifth girl.

The youngsters also performed well in the row and memory challenge to secure the team title, and a bronze statuette of a Marine Commando.

Richard Stack, with the highest individual score in the winning team, won a mountain bike.

Royal Marines visited the school to present the prizes in an assembly.

Rod Fletcher, of Oakbank's PE department, paid tribute to the pupils.

He said: "The Oakbank team was outstanding in effort, team spirit and behaviour and was a credit to the school."