Festival was a “vision for a child-centred borough”

The festival drew to a close on Wednesday with the annual One Voice concert at Magna, which featured hundreds of children singing in harmony.

It followed a series of events focusing on art, music, science and drama, with thousands of kids from across the borough involved.

Among the highlights was a week-long showcase of the Bloodhound Project's supersonic car, which will attempt to travel at 1,000mph next year, to fire students’ passion for science and engineering.

A host of authors, musicians, storytellers, poets, theatre companies and illustrators attended to entertain and motivate young people as they develop their creative talents.

Events including Rotherham's Got Talent, Strictly Come Nursery Rhymes and film awards night The ROSCARS — which was hosted by Mark Labbett from ITV quiz show The Chase.

Cllr Read said: “Events such as the Children's Festival are exactly what our vision for a child-centred borough is all about, using local talent and national projects to inspire the next generation in becoming future artists, engineers and teachers.

“The focus around STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) projects is particularly exciting given Rotherham's industrial heritage.”