A foreign languages pupil at Wisbech Grammar School has won a place in the national final of a spelling bee contest.

Tanveer Sira, 12, came second in the German section of the Spelling Bee Regional Competition at Comberton Village College.

Another pupil, Christopher Lemagnen, 11, also represented the school in the German part of the competition, and Lydia Payne-English, 11, and Beatrice Winder, 11, demonstrated their talent for skilful spelling in French.

The pupils, who had been training hard all year with help from sixth formers Joanna Slipper, 17, and Lucy Setchfield ,18, were among the last 141 out of 8,902 who had started the contest in East Anglia.

Thierry Jestin, foreign language spelling bees coordinator at the school, said: “The Spelling Bee Competition is a fun but difficult competition; it provides pupils with the linguistic knowledge they need when starting to learn a new language.

“All pupils represented Wisbech Grammar School proudly at the regional competition and we are now working hard to make sure Tanveer does his best at the final in July.”