THERE are so many gifted and talented youngsters in the Amesbury area that a special summer school had twice the number of applicants for the spaces available.

The fortnight-long special summer session at Amesbury's Stonehenge School began last week and ends tomorrow.

It has attracted 30 youngsters from primary and junior feeder schools in Amesbury, the Woodford Valley, Shrewton and Figheldean but twice that number applied for places.

Paul Osborne, head of maths at Stonehenge School, said the special summer school had been a resounding success.

He said: "The aim of the summer school is to stretch the pupils who are aged between nine and 12 years.

"But, at the same time, they are enjoying hands-on activities as well, so it is not all hard work.

"They are working hard and playing hard and everyone is having a good time."

The emphasis is on numeracy and the summer school is part of Stonehenge School's bid to get special status in maths and computers.

Mr Osborne was helped by two other teachers - Rachel Dobson, a maths teacher at Stonehenge School, and Tracy Davis, a former maths co-ordinator at Amesbury Junior School.