'Stroppy' boys win debating contest

St Bede's School students Ben Noble, 15, from Selmeston and Bruno Riddy, 17, from Alfriston, took part in a debate.

They beat off other schools to win the local area section of the English Speaking Union debating competition.

The motion was: 'That prisoners should be given the right to vote.'

John Tuson, head of English at St Bede's, said: 'We've had some great debaters at St Bede's over the past decade, but these are, potentially, two of the best.

'They're intelligent, determined and, when the occasion demands, quite stroppy.

'If you were up in court, you'd want them defending you.'

In round two of the debating competition Ben and Bruno will face debaters from more schools across the South East.