A RUTHIN primary school has been named among the top three in Wales in a festive competition.

Ysgol Pen Barras' 65 strong choir has placed third in S4C's 20th annual Carol yr Wyl choral competition to find the best original Welsh language Christmas carol with 'Carol yr Angel/ The Angel's Carol'.

Also named in the top 10 was the bilingual Ysgol Talhaiarn, of Llanfairtalhaiarn near Abergele, in the competition which was won ultimately saw Llanberis primary Ysgol Dolbadarn win the trophy.

Pen Barras Headteacher Marc Lloyd Jones said: "We're all very proud to come in third, and delighted with the composer Elin Owen and conductor Sioned Roberts for giving us this carol we can go on and sing every year."

The competition, open to choirs in all primary schools in Wales and to Welsh medium schools out of Wales, was televised on S4C shows Prynhawn Da and Heno, with the winner being announced on Tuesday, December 18.

This latest result for the Ruthin school joins a 2016 second place in the youth world choir category at the International Eisteddfod and a win in Cor Cymru.

The school won the choral competition in multiple National Eisteddfods as well as winning BBC Songs of Praise’s Junior School Choir of the Year in 2011.

Making it to the top 10 in their first ever entry, Ysgol Talhaiarn submitted their entry Sutfredi di?/(How can you? - which asks how a baby can be the king of all men - after practicing the composition written by staff, pupils and pianist Gwyneth Vaughan just three times.

The bilingual school, which only has 61 pupils - including reception classes - has a choir of just 26 singers with every pupil from years two to six involved.

Headteacher Geraint Evans said:"Although they don't reveal the ranks outside the top three, I have to say fair play to the children for giving the winners a big round of applause - even though it was on the telly.

"“The fact that we’ve made it this far to compete against such established first language Welsh school choirs, as a bilingual school, is pretty unbelievable really.

“Given that up until now they’ve just been performing in school concerts, I'm very proud of them and I look forward to giving it another go next year."