PUPILS at St Alban's RC High School, Pontypool, were on song for the town's fifth annual inter-schools eisteddfod.

The team of 78 students beat teams from Abersychan Comprehen-sive and West Monmouth School to walk away with the winners' cup for the third time.

The students, aged 11 to 16, won overall first place by having outstanding results in the categories they entered.

Pupils came first in the string, brass and piano musical competitions, and the solo and group Welsh recitations.

The school's choir was joint first in its competition and the folk dance group won its category.

In the off-stage art and crafts competition, students from St Alban's were awarded first place in each of the year 7, 8 and 9 arts competition and first in the Year 9 craft event. Bob Scourfield, Welsh teacher at the school, said: "It was a whole school effort with the Welsh, music, physical education and art and crafts departments working closely together. The pupils worked very hard for the last month, preparing their pieces in their own time.

"We are celebrating quite an achievement. Three out of five is not bad at all."