COUNCILLORS in Ammanford were top of the class when they went back to school as part of Local Democracy Week.

Members of the authority's executive board visited Amman Valley Comprehensive School in a bid to give youngsters an insight into how the county council is run.

Pupils took on the roles of chief executive, leader and members of the county council as part of the authority's Insight programme.

Teams of pupils had to decide which services and developments the council's budget should be spent on.

They had to make tough choices between various projects including disabled access to buildings, a new call centre, community school, education centre, theme park and power station.

The pupils, who took on the the roles of chief executive and executive board members, presented their budget strategy to a panel of real county councillors acting as a scrutiny committee.

The aim of Insight is to give pupils an idea of how decisions are made and carried out by the county council.

Executive board member Clive Scourfield said: "The local authority, in more than one way, influences the lives of all schoolchildren.

"It is important for young people to understand the role it plays and the Insight scheme makes it a fun way to learn.

"The Insight day at Amman Valley was voted a huge success by both the pupils, staff and councillors."