Two secondary school pupils will represent the island at a prestigious reading competition in the UK.

Students from King William’s College and Castle Rushen High School were announced as this year’s winners of the annual Thomas Cranmer Prayer Book Reading Competition in the island.

Jemima Shepherd from King William’s College won the senior class and Amy Bloch from Castle Rushen High School won the intermediate class.

Both will compete in the UK national final which is to be held at Lambeth Palace, London, in February 2019.

The runner up prize in the senior class went to KWC student Alexandria Kirin.

Meanwhile, Buchan School pupil Elizabeth Milwaters, claimed first place in the under-11 class.

Gill Qualtrough, organiser of the competition, said: ’The event is part of a national contest in which entrants recite a passage of their own choice lasting for three to five minutes from the Book of Common Prayer.

’The Isle of Man has been extremely successful in national finals with Emer Halton winning this year.’

The Isle of Man Prayer Book Society held the island heats of the competition, involving youngsters from the age of 11 to 19, at St George’s Church, in Douglas.

This year there were 10 prize winners.

Awards were presented to the winners by Bishop Peter Eagles.

In the previous year, island pupils Emer Halton and Amy Bloch competed in the national finals, which took place at Old Palace in Worcester in February.