STUDENTS from a Pendle high school who came third in the regional round of a youth parliament debating contest received their certificate by a man who knows a thing or two about heated debates.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice visited Edge End High School, Nelson, to hand over the awards.

The school made a video of a debate at the House of Commons with pupils taking the roles of Prime Minister, the leader of the Opposition and MPs as part of a national youth parliament contest.

Mr Prentice visited Edge End in March, before the video was made, to give the students some pointers about debate and Parliamentary procedures.

"What a marvellous achievement," he said after presenting the certificates.

"The Year 8 pupils from Edge End were in competition with schools throughout the North West.

"Some of the students they were up against were a great deal older so the Edge End pupils should be very proud of themselves. They fully deserve this very creditable third place."