BOWHILL People's Burns Club, celebrating its 80th year, is inviting local primary school children to enter its long-running Children's Burns Competition which will be held in the Masonic Hall, Orebank Road, on Saturday February 29.

Registration is from 9.30 am and the competition will commence at 10am and will last until around mid-day.

The annual competition is open to all primary school children in the ABCD villages.

There are three age groups: 6 and under, 7-9 and 10-12, in the poetry and song competitions and a separate group for duets and for previous winners. Group winners will be eligible to enter the Fife Schools' Competition and if successful there, go on to the National Competition in the summer.

Club secretary Willie Miller said: "Parents and children should in the first instance approach their school headteacher to register their interest in taking part in the competition

"The number of entrants to the competition has been falling year on year and BPBC would be pleased to see more entrants from pupils of Cardenden, Denend and St Ninian's Primary Schools this year.

"Teachers, parents and friends are welcome to come along and support their children at the event".

Club President, Alistair Deas, expressed his regrets that the youngsters of both sexes who show such talent in winning the schools' competitions are generally lost to the wider membership of the Burns family due to lack of the opportunity to carry their talents into adult life and hopes that all the past winners of the competitions who have left school will take the following opportunity to rekindle their interest in the poetry, songs and life of Robert Burns and add a new dimension to the depth of talent currently available in the club.

Anyone with an interest in promoting the works of Robert Burns will be made very welcome at the regular monthly meetings of the club which are held at 7pm on the second Saturday of each month from September to April in the Masonic Hall, Orebank Road.