A GROUP of children from the region failed to reach the semi-final of the BBC1 Hard Spell competition last night.

The five youngsters tested their knowledge against a team of children from the South-West in the contest to find the country's best young speller.

Despite their hard work, the team - Emma Davies, from Billingham, Jonathon Leech, of Knaresborough, Joshua Tognarelli, of Sunderland, Matthew Franklin, from Hunmanby, and Cumbria's Emma Gait - failed to come out on top.

The semi-final and final of the show, presented by Eamonn Holmes, are due to be shown this weekend.

Published: 04/12/2004