A 15-year-old Kingston pupil has won a regional final of the largest public speaking competition for young people in the world.

The Speakout Challenge, run by the Jack Petchey Foundation, offers every secondary school in London and Essex workshops for Year 10 students.

Each year, more than 18,000 young people are trained on how to “speak out”, while 375 students in Kingston received the training.

This year, Hammad Malik from Southborough High School scooped the top prize of a £100 gift certificate and the chance to go through to the grand final of the competition in July.

Hammad impressed the judges with a winning speech called ‘Freedom’, which was all about freedom of speech.

Hammad said winning was “the last thing” he expected, adding: “I am so happy.”

Second place went to 14-year-old Emmanuel Simango from Coombe Boys’ School with his speech “Excuses” and third place went to 14-year-old Owen Lloyd, also from Coombe Boy’s School, with a speech entitled “The Demon Youth”.

The mayor of Kingston, Councillor Julie Pickering, presented the awards.

She said: “Wow- hasn’t Kingston got talent?

“I am delighted this excellent programme is available.

“It builds skills that can be taken forward for many years to come.

“As Jack Petchey says ‘if you think you can, you can’.”

The final will be held at the Cambridge Theatre in Covent Garden on Monday, July 2.