HUNDREDS of youngsters took to the stage for an evening of entertainment on the first night of this year’s Rock Challenge.

Families packed into the O2 Guildhall in Southampton yesterday evening to watch school children performing.

Eight schools from across Hampshire and a team from Le Havre in France competed in a whirl of talent and colour.

Each school showcased its work in a five to eight minute performance while a panel of judges looked for their skills in drama, design and dance.

Itchen Sixth Form College from Southampton was crowned first followed by the French school and Wyvern College from Eastleigh.

Eastleigh college Barton Peveril Sixth Form instead came fourth.

The Daily Echo’s website will be up to date with pictures of the performance and each night a special souvenir copy of the Daily Echo will be on sale at the Guildhall featuring the local Rock Challenge teams participating that night.

The annual event is organised by Be Your Best Foundation and his director Ian Readhead, who was also first place prize presenter last night said: “This was another really great Rock Challenge evening, a wonderful mix of different styles of dance.

"It was a delight to have a school from France to be here to remember the historic links between the ports of Southampton and le Harve.”

Nine more schools will perform tonight, including the Southampton-based Regents Park Community College, Hounsdown School, Testwood Sports College and Cantell School.

Along with them the Winchester-based Osborne School and Peter Symonds College and the Eastleigh King’s School.

Students from Priory School in Whippingham and the Downs School in Newbury will also show their skills tonight.

Winners from each night will perform again at the Southern finals at Portsmouth Guildhall next April, when Rock Challenge’s champions will be named.