Huddersfield pupils have gained a top medal at a major international music festival.

The talented songbirds of Lindley Junior School Choir sung their way into third place in the junior children’s choir category at the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod in north Wales, beating five of the best choirs from Britain and abroad.

The group wowed judges with their beautiful renditions of the Magical Kingdom by J Rutter and Every Voice as One, which was written for the competition by composer Gareth Glynn.

Lindley Juniors were narrowly beaten by Hong Kong-based St Paul’s Educational College Primary School and North London Collegiate School Canon’s Choir by just a handful of marks.

Talking about their success, Eilir Owen Griffiths, the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod’s director of music, said: “The standard of competition was exceptionally high and we were treated to some wonderful young voices.

“Finishing third is something the children of Lindley Junior School should be very proud of and they deserve huge credit.”

It is the latest accolade for the celebrated Lindley choir, who competed in the final of this year’s BBC Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year.

The choir’s conductor, Alison North said: “We actually won the 2014 event but the standard this year was exceptionally high and I’m proud of the performance the children put in.

“It was a close contest involving eight finalists and we are proud to have finished third.”

The choir were one of many distinguished acts to perform at the seven day festival, which included singers Burt Bacharach, Rufus Wainwright and UB40.

The 69th festival of its kind, it was set up to promote peace and harmony after World War Two and brought together musicians from 50 countries.

This year, acts from the UK, Italy, France, China, Japan, Russia, Germany, Spain, Portugal and the Arab League took to the stage.