MORE than 200 youngsters tried life as a hairdresser, builder and businessman yesterday.

Students from Parkside Comprehensive School joined pupils from neighbouring primary schools for The Sky Is the Limit two-day event.

Parkside, in Willington, hosted the first day to give youngsters a taste of secondary education and yesterday the event moved to Bishop Auckland College, where the children took part in a series of workshops.

They got a taste of bricklaying and joinery, hairdressing, performing arts, business and Spanish courses on offer at the college and took part in team-building and problem-solving activities.

North-West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong yesterday presented certificates of attendance and awards for high achievers.

She said: "We have to raise the ambitions of our children. Events like this show that education can open up a world of different opportunities."

The winners were: Sean Rusby, Darren Little, Josh Hawkins, Greg Harrison, Philip Pollit, Joanna Brown, Victoria Walton, Emma Hodgson, Emma Lyle, Lauren Mullinger, Helena Berryayre, Stephen Goldsboro, Aidan Parkinson, Craig Allinson, Rebecca Dawson, Claire Hedley, Jay Craggs, Katie Bates, Joseph Newton, Andrew Stocks, Christopher Appleby, Andrew Quarmby, Andrew McKay, Luke Smith, Jamie Lea Richards, Tiffany Clark, Rosie Reddington, Charlotte Yates and Michael Coates.