EIGHT youngsters proved they were no slouches when it comes to the high-pressure world of big business.

The teenagers, from Bedale High School, beat others from all over the county when they won the Coca Cola Real Business Challenge, which was staged at the Yorkshire Museum, in York.

On the theme From Concept to Consumption, they had a day to design, produce and market ideas for a new soft drink, culminating in a presentation to an audience.

Their task was to deliver the project as cost-effectively as possible, including efficient use of information technology.

The Bedale students came up with a drink that they called Thirst Aider.

They also devised its advertising slogan "You'll never need 999".

The school's head of business studies, Martyn Coombs, said: "The key to success for Bedale's team was to get to grips with the very complex task and to quickly delegate individual roles to utilise everyone's strengths.

"The teamwork and leadership was excellent throughout the day and the final presentation was slick, professional and with a good helping of comedy.

"The pupils can be very proud that the day-to-day skills they learn in GCSE business studies have enabled them to win this coveted award."