YOUNG pianists have been battling it out for victory in a major prize class at the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival.

The piano recital 12 to 14 years class was held yesterday.

It is a Dorothy Irwin Prize class - which means high money prizes.

However, the prizes have to be spent on the winner's musical education.

The class was judged in two sections related to the exam grade the performers had reached.

Section A performers were playing at a level up to grade five, while section B performers had grades between five and eight.

Section A of the class was won by Christian Eccles-Cannon of Hadfield, Derbyshire.

He was given £100, while Alice Maslin, of Leeds, was given £50 after taking second place.

Mirfield teenager David Bolt took first place in section B.

David, 14, was awarded £80 for his performance of Fantasia in G minor by Telemann, Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven and Persistent Rhythm by Martha Mier.

David, who has been coming to the Mrs Sunderland for three years, competed in the class last year.

He said: "I came second in this class last year, so it is nice to finally come first."

David has played the piano, his main instrument, for six years, but also plays the electric guitar and the trumpet.

Despite missing out on the prize money, Denby Dale girl Hayley-Danielle Pearson also enjoyed success in the class.

She was awarded the David Cawthra Trophy after judge Graeme Humphreys named her best Kirklees performer in the class.

Hayley-Danielle, 13, has competed at the Mrs Sunderland before, but it was the first time she had entered this class.

She has enjoyed a string of successes this year, winning third place in the piano solo 13 years and under class on Monday and second place in the piano duet 17 years and under class, with sister Stacey- Danielle.

Hayley-Danielle has played the piano for eight years and also plays the flute.