Pupils from across Kingston competed against each other to show off their public speaking skills.

Tiffin Girls’ School pupil Sorochi Eze-Uzomaka, 15, scooped top prize at the Speak Out Challenge regional final at Hollyfield School last night, and will now win the chance to enter the grand final and win £6,000-worth in prizes.

She beat off competition from 19 other speakers aged 14-15 with her winning  “the reality I fear” speech, with 360 pupils across the borough competing in the early stages.

Kingston mayor Geoff Austin, who presented the awards, said: “Although there were some lovely light-hearted moments, all the speakers spoke with a deep-felt passion and from a serious point of view with a clear message.”

Second place went to Kajan Kailayanathan, 14, from Tiffin School with his speech “Can money buy happiness?” and third place went to Jessica de Marco, 14, from the Holy Cross School with her speech titled "What would you do?"

Judges included Kingston fire service commander Peter Rickard, police inspector Steven Billington and award winning author Dr Yvonne Thompson among others.