THREE teenagers are looking forward to reaching new heights after winning first prize in a national geography quiz -- a hot air balloon ride over their school.

Ufaq Qazi, Adam Shakir and Lewis O'Dea, all aged 15, beat 1,200 competitors to the top prize in the Geographical Association's annual quiz, sponsored by Ordnance Survey.

The Blackburn Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School pupils won two rounds to take part in the final contest with 12 other teams at Birmingham University and beat a Lincolnshire grammar school by only half a point to win the last match.

Lewis, of Blackburn, Ufaq, of Burnley, and Adam, of Read, are now looking forward to crewing a hot air balloon over Blackburn to land near their school.

They have also won books, maps and certificates for themselves and a glass trophy and £500 worth of geography equipment for their school.