PUPILS from Manningtree are celebrating after testing their wits and debating skills in a competition and coming out on top.

More than 30 students from teams across north Essex battled it out to be awarded the North East Essex Education Partnership (NEEEP) debating cup.

Picking up the trophy were Beth Dodd and Joshua Tarrier from Manningtree High School after a fiercely contested battle using the British Parliamentary debating style.

Joshua said: “It was an amazing experience to try out the BP debate style."