EIGHT sixth form students have won awards in the annual UK Senior Maths Challenge, which attracted 60,000 entries nationwide.

First-year students at Stockton Sixth Form College, Kathryn Hutchinson and David Johnson, and second-year students Matthew Lambert, Carl Wright and Stephen Roe, won silver awards in the challenge, which put them in the top 20 per cent of entries.

Three students, Matthew Yeaman and Donna Baldwin, who are in their second year, and first-year student Dean Coyle, won a bronze, putting them in the top 40 per cent of entries.

The competition tests the creative use of mathematics, and covers lateral thinking and mathematical problems.

College principal Martin Clinton said: "Our students enter this very tough competition every year and, without fail, have been successful.

"Students who took part in this year's competition are totally committed to their subject, and we are very proud of them.

"Their commitment and enthusiasm are plain for all to see, and clearly mathematics is a very important part of their lives."