Two eleven-year-old school pupils who learnt English as a second language won first prize in a writing competition.

Salam Rajab and Sara Mazilu from the Sandringham School, The Ridgeway, St Albans entered the 2018 Henrietta Branford Writing Competition together to create their story Mr Swat’s Revenge.

Salam only arrived in the UK in November from Syria and had to overcome her language difficulties. Sara, who is from Romania understood how hard it was to learn a new language.

Author Prue Goodwin said: “Being given a paragraph starter to a story is not as straightforward as it seems, especially when the judge is looking for something original, Salam and Sara’s story is clever, exciting and features some great characters."

Anne Marley, founder of the Branford Boase Award and Henrietta Branford Writing Competition said: “The girls’ story is sparky, inventive and a real page-turner”.

Salam and Sara attended the Branford Boase Award celebration party in London on July 4 and were awarded their prize by Prue Goodwin.