Patcham Junior School completed a hat-trick of titles at the Brighton Primary Schools Championships.

Patcham became the first school to win the blue division for the third year running on a record-breaking day at Withdean Stadium.

More than 1,500 pupils took part, the highest ever number of entries in the competition which has been hosted by Dorothy Stringer School for the last five years.

Schools were split into four divisions based on their size and took part in running, jumping and throwing events.

Patcham were competing in the category for the largest schools and deputy headteacher Ray Carter put the success down to their sports-mad attitude.

He said: "We have always been a very sports-orientated school and to win three times in a row shows we are doing something right.

"We run sports clubs during lunch times and after schools and encourage everyone to get involved.

"Success breeds success and now the expectation is there for us to do well, which makes others want to give it a go.

"Children who might not have tried sport in the past see others winning and want to be part of it, which is great for them and the school."

St Bernadette's won the red division for intermediate sized schools and Bevendean Primary took the smaller sized green division title.

Bevendean capped a successful day by winning the throws cup and sharing the relay cup with St Mark's, who also won the yellow division for small schools and shared the jumps cup with Fairlight.

Whitehawk Primary were awarded the cup for the most improved team performance after doubling their score from last year's competition.

Dorothy Stringer teacher Andy Marchant, who helped organise the event, said: "The event was another massive success and it was great to see a record number of children taking part.

"It is getting bigger and bigger every year and now almost every school is involved. There are still some who don't, though, so hopefully they will next year and the competition will carry on growing."

The competing schools were: Balfour Junior, Bevendean Primary, Carden Primary, Carlton Hill Primary, Coldean Primary, Coombe Road Primary, Downs Junior, Elm Grove Primary, Fairlight Primary, Hertford Junior, Middle Street, Moulsecoomb, Our Lady of Lourdes, Patcham Junior, Queen's Park Primary, Rudyard Kipling Primary, St Bernadettes Primary, St John the Baptist, St Josephs, St Lukes Junior, St Margarets Primary, St Marks Primary, St Martins, Saltdean Primary, Stanford Junior, Westdene Primary, Whitehawk Primary, Woodingdean Primary.