THE benefits and consequences of quarrying were being debated by students from a Derbyshire school with pupils from across the East Midlands today.

Youngsters from the Saint Benedict Catholic School and Performing Arts College, Darley Abbey, joined representatives from seven other schools for the debate at the British Geological Survey, Nottingham.

The discussion was to look at the economic benefits of farming minerals versus the environmental impact of quarrying.

Students were to be presented with a fictitious scenario that involved the proposed development of limestone quarry close to a National Park.

They were to participate in a mock public inquiry to present their case to a panel of planning commissioners.

The debate winners would be the students who best got across their message.