SIX teenagers have beaten classmates to win a trip to the Far East.

The youngsters fly out in December for a ten-day trip to Singapore, that includes high tea with the country's president.

The pupils, all aged 15, are Lucy McPherson and Marc Jackson, of Blackfyne Community School, Consett; Robert Plews and Laura Ellen McGregor, of Moorside Community College, near Consett; and Richard Potter and Julie Liddle, of Tanfield School, near Stanley.

They competed against fellow students in a series of challenges, to win a place at the Sunburst Youth Camp.

Richard Potter said: "It is going to be great. We get to meet people from other countries and cultures and get to have high tea with the president."

The competition was organised by Consett-based chilled ready meals manufacturer, International Cuisine, in partnership with its parent company, Singapore Food Industries.

The winners will meet youngsters from 11 Asian countries at the camp, before taking high tea with the president of Singapore. The trip also includes visits to the National University of Singapore and the country's Science Centre, plus a night safari to see some of the wildlife.

International Cuisine managing director Bill Connolly said: "We wanted to thank the town for helping us succeed and this trip seemed the ideal way of rewarding the community".