Abba hit wins junior eurovision

An Icelandic version of Abba's Dancing Queen has won the junior version of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Schoolovision was the idea of one of the teachers at Yester Primary in Gifford, East Lothian.

Children in 34 countries recorded songs before choosing the winner in a live online vote.

The competition was set up last year by teacher Michael Purves after he was involved in the British Council's e-Twinning programme.

The scheme enables schools across Europe to work on projects together online.

The children were asked to record a song and upload it to a website where it could be viewed and judged by the other entrants.

The voting saw Iceland's entry finish first with a cover version of Dancing Queen, with Czech Republic second and Yester Primary in East Lothian - representing Scotland - third.

Schoolovision was designed to broaden children's horizons and provide an insight into life in other European schools.

Yester Primary School pupils performed a song about Scotland in the 8th Century called Until the End.

The children from Iceland and Spain went for a more traditional Eurovision feel, by choosing the Abba hits Dancing Queen and Mamma Mia, while the Norwegian entry, Meaning with Life, was written by the pupils themselves.

Director of the British Council Scotland, Paul Docherty, said: "As an organisation that builds cultural links for Scotland internationally we believe deeply in the benefit of school partnerships and the vast range of social benefits they bring to children.

"We would like to congratulate Yester Primary on developing such a fantastic initiative that will connect children in Scotland with their peers across Europe."

Yester Primary School improved on last year's placing, when they came 13th in the competition which was won by children from the Czech Republic.