CHILDREN in Hartlepool have been drawing on their artistic talents to promote the importance of going to school.

About 300 posters on the theme have been entered in a competition by pupils from six primary schools - Owton Manor, Brougham, Golden Flatts, Grange, Jesmond Road and St Helen's.

These have been whittled down to 12 finalists - two from each school - and an overall winner will be announced at an event at the town's Education Department Centre on Monday, to be attended by Hartlepool United Football Club manager Chris Turner.

The winning poster will then be used to spearhead education chiefs' drive to boost attendance by cutting truancy and sickness rates among youngsters across the town.

Julie Armstrong, Hartlepool local education authority's (LEA) attendance manager, said: "It is important to stress that these schools do not have the worst attendance records in the town.

"They have been selected because they have benefited from initiatives in the past and we want to try to build upon the success of these."

A tailor-made strategy for boosting attendance has been drawn up for each school. Kirsten Pearson, LEA school attendance assistant, who has been working closely with the six schools, said: "The children were really enthusiastic and came up with some excellent poster designs."

Every child who has submitted a design will receive a certificate, the 12 finalists will be presented with £10 McDonalds vouchers and the overall winner will receive Hartlepool United FC tickets and a family day out at the Hartlepool Historic Quay.