Four hundred school children and 80 soldiers from 11 regiments came together at a Kent barracks for a day of military activities.

A gun run, combat sports race and target shooting were just some of the activities pupils from 32 Kent schools took part in for Army Challenge 2008 at Sir John Moore Barracks in Shorncliffe, near Folkestone, on Friday.

Castle Community College in Deal came out overall winners beating Gravesend Grammar School and Fulston Manor School from Sittingbourne into second and third respectively.

They won some of the latest Army sports equipment for their school but all competitors received an Army Be The Best goodie bag.

Organiser Capt Laura Walton said: "Be it through physical, mental or problem solving activities they learn to work as team and communicate together.

"It is also an open day for the army so they can find out about us because many people do not realise how diverse the military is.

"We have a lot of our soldiers mentoring the teams throughout the day who encourage the students to develop bonds.

"A lot of these school children have probably never met people from schools around their area and some friendly competition between schools is a good thing."