A RECORD number of entries were submitted for this year's James Barningham History Essay Competition, at Darlington's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College.

The first prize, £75, went to Richard Hogg, 18, of Bishop Auckland, who wrote an analysis of the outbreak of the Second World War.

Another eight prizes were also presented to young historians. Second place went to last year's winner, Mark Tallentire, with third place taken by Peter Cuthbertson, who wrote about the Falklands conflict.

The other prizewinners were: Ben Weeks, Beth Thomas, Paul Trenholme, Jennifer Felley, Jennifer Mowat and Simon Davies