BOOKWORMS at a Padiham school are defying their age to be top of the class in reading.

Shuttleworth College year seven pupils Lily Duckworth, Robie-Lea Morrell and Tom Smith are only 11 but tests showed they each had the reading skills of a 17-year-old.

Assistant head teacher Holly Clarke said: “We are proud of them. All students are tested on a national reading programme to produce their reading age.

“Lily, Robie-Lea and Tom came out on top for our school at year seven level and we were impressed when their reading age was 17.”