A SPECIAL maths event took place in Hartlepool to encourage youngsters to enjoy the subject.

High Tunstall School was host to a Maths Jamboree, which saw 50 teams of pupils aged between ten and 13, from the town's schools, compete for a range of prizes.

Entertainer Kjartan Poskitt was on hand to help prepare the pupils for the event with his maths trickery.

Event organiser Jane Welsh said: "The children had a great time. We challenged their thinking skills and, hopefully, children in Hartlepool now realise that maths really is fun."

Debbie King, Hartlepool Borough Council's numeracy coordinator, who also helped to organise the event, said: "A great emphasis has been placed on raising mathematics standards across the town and the results are very impressive.

"We started the work one year before the national initiative, and our much-improved results reflect the high priority we have given to numeracy.

"This event was part of the overall effort to help raise the profile of mathematics and encourage children, in a fun way, to take even more interest."