LITTLE Mahri Gilbert raised laughter when she said it was ‘bear-tastic’ to win the first trophy at this year’s Inverclyde Music Festival — after her class put on a dazzling performance of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’.

Mahri and her 31 Kilmacolm Primary classmates jumped for joy when they were crowed as the primary two champions of the Singing Games competition at Greenock Town Hall yesterday.

Mahri, who played one of the bears, said it was great to lift the first of the silverware.

She said: “It’s bear-tastic!

“I love performing and it’s great to be on stage. I don’t usually get the chance.

“We have been practising for about three weeks.” Her teacher Laura Hogan praised the pupils for their excellent efforts.

She said: “I’m delighted for them.

“They so deserve it as they have worked so hard.

“They got a lot of help from Anne McGowan, a retired teacher, who lives next to the school.

“She gave up a lot of her time to help us, so we want to thank her.” Mrs Hogan was also thrilled about the feedback her talented pupils received from new festival adjudicator Rana Keane.

She said: “The judge said we had a variety of singing voices and we used a lot of the space on stage.

“She also said we told the story very well and that the pupils looked like they enjoyed themselves.” Talented pupils from Wemyss Bay scooped second place for their performance of ‘Can you tell me’.

The festival officially opens on Monday and culminates in a Grand Finale Concert on Saturday 7 February.