YOUNG first aiders at a primary school have won first, second and third place in a competition.

The Durham County round of the St John Ambulance National Schools First Aid competition took place at the organisation's county HQ in Langley Moor.

Eight teams from junior and senior schools from Lanchester, Chester-le-Street and Darlington took part. Children were sent to rooms where they had to react to different first aid scenarios.

In scenes mocked up with volunteers from St John Ambulance, they had to help a man who had fallen from his ladder and was surrounded by broken glass and another who had been scalded by a kettle.

Pupils at Newker Primary School in Chester-le-Street won the junior section, as well as coming second and third, while the senior section was won by St Bede's RC School in Lanchester.

Teacher at Newker Primary, Mandy Jones, said: "Children on the school council decided they wanted to enter this competition and they have really enjoyed it. It's also taught them lots about first aid."

The winning teams now qualify for the regional finals in Goole in May. The finals will be held in July at London Zoo.