Students from Moreton Hall School near Oswestry took the podium in a prestigious speaking competition recently.

Reading from The Book of Common Prayer, the 12 students took part in the annual Sarah Parkes' Spoken English Competition which was held in Weston Rhyn earlier this month.

The competition, created by Dr Giles Parkes in memory of his late daughter Sarah, was judged by Reverend Simon Airey and Sarah's sister Celia Jenkins.

And it was another triumph for the Moreton Hall students as Coco Harpin was placed first in the Senior competition, while Elin Pryce placed second.

In the junior section, Lizzie Melia was awarded first place, while Eleanor Pinney took second place.

Head of Spoken English at the school, Merriel Halsall-Williams, commented: "The girls all worked really hard and read with confidence and clarity.

"Both winners will go forward to the national finals in February which will be held at The Old Palace, Worcester."