Song festival hailed as best ever

Colourful costumes, dazzling dance routines and seasonal songs have led to this year's Christmas Choir Competition being hailed as the best-ever in the event's seven-year history.

The festival of song at Brierley Hill's Merry Hill shopping centre attracted performances by hundreds of school children from across the West Midlands who kept shoppers enthralled during the two-week long competition.

The competition was won by pupils from Netherbrook Primary School, in Netherton, who beat off competition from youngsters from 48 other schools to scoop the £3,000 first prize.

Children from Timbertree Primary School, Cradley Heath, came second and students from Glebefields Primary School, Tipton, came third.

All three schools will be presented with a certificate and trophy at a prize-giving ceremony on Thursday at 4.30pm.

The panel of three judges had their work cut out to whittle down the entrants to just 14 for Friday's grand final.

The competition consisted of seven heats with each school having just 15 minutes to to impress the judges by performing a medley of festive songs live in front of hundreds of shoppers.

The panel judged the schools on factors such as festivity, enthusiasm, originality and quality of performance before choosing Netherbrook Primary as the worthy winners.

Kelly Reed, marketing manager at Merry Hill, said: "The standard of the singing this year was fantastic which made the final very challenging to judge and the top three schools were extremely close contenders.

"All the schools who took part should be congratulated for their hard work and enthusiasm and for really raising the bar to make this year's event the best-ever in its seven-year history.

"It wasn't just about coming down and singing this year – it was about the performances. Some of the schools played instruments, others made costumes and others performed dance routines. They were absolutely superb.

"We saw something new and innovative every day from the old traditional songs and carols to ones which have been composed specially for the event."