KEIGHLEY'S mayor addressed a packed council chamber in the town hall for this year's Keighley School Achiever Awards.

Councillor Mohammed Nazam officiated at the event which is designed to celebrate outstanding effort, achievement, behaviour and good deeds of pupils at Keighley’s primary schools.

Speaking after the awards, Cllr Nazam said: “It was a great pleasure to meet the pupils, parents and staff from our local schools.

"The pupils’ engagement with the ceremony was superb, and I hope it is something they will remember with pride."

Each year, head teachers are invited to nominate a pupil or a team of pupils who deserve special recognition.

An invitation to the awards ceremony is accompanied by the engraving of a personal shield for each child and the inscription of the pupil’s name on the school shield, which has the names of the award winners going back several years.

The small shields are personal gifts and the large shields are displayed at each school.

A town council spokesman explained: "The 2017 event started with a talk from the town mayor.

"Pupils were shown the historic artefacts on display in the council chamber, including the photographs of the previous mayors of Keighley.

"The award-winners were then given the opportunity to introduce themselves using the microphones, just like at a council meeting, after which prizes were presented and photographs taken with the mayor."