The district’s MP presented prizes to the winners of this year’s Epping Forest Schools Parliamentary Debating Competition.

Dame Eleanor Laing presented the engraved cups and trophy on Friday, February 16 at Debden Park High School in Willingdale Road, Loughton.

Year 11 students Max Bolton and Amelie Ashton won the competition for their school back in November 2018 for the first time in seven years.

Lead practitioner of English and literacy, Parveen Nawab, from East London, oversaw the preparation of the pupils for their assigned topic.

She said: “We were elated, the students spent so much time and had given us so many lunch times, after school sessions and turned up to the auditions to practise.

“They redrafted, researched, practised counter arguments and their delivery of their speech with sixth formers at our school. It really paid off. “

Max and Amelie were assigned to speak spoke against the motion 'That this House believes that global warming is a myth'.

Parents and Year 7 students attended the special assembly before the half term break to hear Dame Eleanor highlight her role in the Houses of Parliament.

Ms Nawab added: “We hope our students will continue to develop their public speaking skills all the way through to sixth form.”

The two youngsters will keep the prizes for a until the next year’s competition which the school will host.