CHILDREN at a Ruabon school learnt how to crack jokes in public as part of a confidence-boosting project.

Voice Bocs is a nation-wide joke competition for schools aimed at helping children build their communication skills and confidence.

Staff at Ysgol Maes Y Llan whittled down entries from all the pupils to a field of 17 finalists who were asked to tell their joke in front of their classmates.

Video and images by Craig Colville

Head teacher Phil Hamilton and school friend Anne Swarbrick judged the talent and chose Jacob Pridding's concise dog joke as the winner ahead of jokes from Sam Joseph (second) and Morganna Parry in third place.

Jacob had everyone reeling in the aisles with: "What did the dog say when he sat on the sandpaper. Ruff, ruff!"

The competition was run in conjunction with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and supported by the National Association of Head Teachers Cymru and Parentkind.

Reception teacher Sue Griffiths said: "All the children took part and really enjoyed it. It was a fun event and all about building their confidence."