PUPILS at King Edward VII and Queen Mary School in Lytham have proved they are well versed in the art of performance after staging a poetry and prose reading competition.

Nearly 200 boys and girls from years seven and eight selected their favourite passages to read to a panel of judges including the headmistress and the boys' headmaster.

Chairman of the judges David Elliston chose Emily Wildon, 13, as the overall winner from year eight, but the panel were torn between Sam Auty and Leanne Earle in the year seven category.

Emily was pleased with being chosen as the winner when she said: "I found it quite a challenge to perform with a lot of my friends listening but I am delighted to win."

English teacher David Higgins said he noticed an improvement since last year's competition. "The finalists combined clarity with fluency and lively interpretation, and this made for an entertaining and varied competition."

The winners will formally receive their trophies in a ceremony at the end of the school year.