Pupils at Westbury Junior School were proud to be one of the last to use the West Wiltshire District Council’s debating chambers on Friday.

A group of 12 children, aged from seven to 11 years old, from the school council were given a tour around the council offices in Bradley Road, by councillor Andrew Bryant who organised the trip before the council is swallowed up into the unitary authority from the start of April.

Cllr Bryant told them about the roles of councillors and answered their questions, before they had a debate in the main chamber.

Assistant headteacher Claire Moore and chair of governors David Chalker went along to the offices with the children.

Mrs Moore said: “The children were very proud to be the last school and possibly even the last group to use council chambers before the unitary authority comes into play.

“They were given a tour around the offices and an insight into what councillors do and what happens in different departments.

“They then finished the day with a debate in the council chambers with the 11 year old chair Tara Stone sitting in the chairman’s seat.”

Mrs Moore said Tara had worked really well with the team giving each person a turn to speak and listening to their thoughts.

They sat and discussed the outdoor play facilities and the requests that each class had made.

West Wiltshire District Councillor Andrew Bryant said: “I organised the visit to the council offices as it was requested by the school and it was nice to take them around as the last school to visit the chambers before the unitary authority comes in.

“We had a tour, they had question time and then they had a quiz to test them on the workings of a council and they finished with a debate which they held very well.

“The chair and her team were very impressive in conducting a debate.”