BRAINY pupils are counting their successes after winning a maths challenge for the second year running.

Laurence Jackson School in Guisborough has been announced as the winner of learn2work's Tees Valley Maths Challenge.

Year 9 pupils Gary Briggs, Amy Longley-Cook, John Melling and Mark Alcock, all 14, were awarded specially-commissioned trophies and goody bags.

High Tunstall School, in Hartlepool, and Newlands School, Middlesbrough, came second and third respectively with Carmel Technology College, Darlington, and Egglescliffe School, Stockton, being the runners-up.

Local businesses including Image Group, Hollywood Bowl, and Summerhill Visitors Centre, produced inspiring challenges, showing how maths is used in their industry.

The pupils were awarded marks on their teamwork and approach to the problem as well as for correct answers.

Anne Yale, the Maths Challenge co-ordinator for learn2work, said: "The Maths Challenge is an innovative way to get pupils to think about how maths is used in the working world. All of the teams worked hard and the end result was very close."

Laurence Jackson pupil Mark Alcock, said: "Learning maths in a practical situation has really opened my eyes. I realise now that what we learn at school really is used in the outside world."