A GROUP of pupils have talked themselves into a trip to one of the homes of the European Parliament.

Pupils from St Leonard's Roman Catholic School, Durham, won a speaking competition held at County Hall and will visit Strasbourg, in France.

Speaking Up For Europe, organised by Durham County Council's international relations office, and funded by the European Commission and European Parliament, aims to to encourage young people to look at Europe-wide concerns.

The St Leonard's pupils impressed the judges with their talk about the need for British youngsters to learn a foreign language.

Darlington councillor Cyndi Hughes, wife of North-East MEP Stephen Hughes, was one of the judges and said she was impressed with their presentation.

"They were very good. They combined the speaking with a Newsnight-type presentation, which was very inventive,'' she said.