PUPILS at a Bacup high school have had double cause for celebration after winning two competitions in the space of a week.

Connor Johnston, Jo-Anne Clayton, Sophie Tattersall and James Harwood, all year-eight pupils at Fearns Community Sports College, beat teams from 30 other schools to win the top honour at the Salter’s Festival of Chemistry in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry, at the University of Manchester.

And three days later, year-10 pupils enjoyed success in the first debating competition at Burnley College against 12 top schools.

Gifted and talented co-ordinator Shirin Patel, who mentored the group, said: “Katie Brown, Jordan Houlker, Hannah Lageard and Megan Cartridge were like mini Prime Ministers.

“It got really tense in the semi-final about health care, but the judges commented on how well prepared our team was and how determined they were not to back down.”

As the debating competition is to become an annual event, Fearns can defend its title next year.