YOUNGSTERS from Northallerton were among those who won honours in a worldwide mathematics competition.

Anthony Robinson, Raveen Jayasuriya and Stephanie Johnson proved to be among the top one per cent of mathematicians for their age in the UK, all achieving distinctions.

Anthony also achieved a place in the top 100 students from the 170,000 youngsters who took part in the UK.

Other Allertonshire School pupils who achieved excellent scores were Lee Coates, Ross Whyman, Caroline Kidd, Joe Dawson, Adam Clifton, Duncan Robinson and Kelly Rock.

Known as the European Kangarou, the competition tests the highest levels of mathematical achievement.

It is taken by selected students from around the world on the same day. The Kangarou has now expanded beyond its European origins to include countries such as Brazil and Mexico. This year, more than two million students took part.

The ten students from Allertonshire School all qualified for the European Kangarou by achieving a high enough mark in the UK round of the intermediate mathematics challenge, organised by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust.

Maths teacher Julie Pattison said: "Most schools are lucky if one or two students get through to the Kangarou. To get ten through is fantastic. For three to achieve distinction shows what a high calibre of student we have."

All ten received a certificate, and Anthony also won a special prize - a book of mathematical challenges from the University of Leeds.