A TRIO of young scientists have won the regional finals of a national chemistry competition.

The 17-year-olds from Northallerton College competed against students from eight other schools and colleges to win first prize in the North-East finals of the Royal Society of Chemistry competition.

Students Lee Finch, from Bedale, Hossam Osman, from Northallerton, and Lizzie Woods, from Thornton-le-Moor, were handed a number of soil samples and given three hours to analyse them for toxins.

Yesterday, they were presented with their certificates and a cheque for £75 from representatives of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Teesside University, which hosted and sponsored the competition.

Chemistry teacher Malathi Nathan said: "Their success could well book them a place in the national finals of the competition, to be held soon.

"They rose to the challenge very well, even though they had to use some equipment that was new to them.

"They were chosen not only for being gifted and talented, but also for being able to work together safely as a team.

"They split the work between them and then came back together again in the final stages to compare notes and come to a conclusion."