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Academy Students in Parliament

FOUR Stranraer Academy students are off to London later this month for an insiders look at Parliament.

The Academy team of Ross Adams, Ryan Alexander, Neal Riley and reserve Debbie Clegg won the inaugural Peter Duncan debating competition in Castle Douglas on Monday.

The prize for the winners is a trip to London later this month to see Prime Ministers Question Time first-hand.

Organised by local MP Peter Duncan and held at the Lochside Theatre, the event has been hailed as a great success, with schools from all over the constituency taking part.

A further bonus is an invite by "Acres" production company Zenith Entertainment to all 15 competitors who took part in the debating competition.

The schools have been invited to visit the set and meet the cast and crew when filming resumes in July.

After the event Mr Duncan said "Events such as this, I believe, are important in encouraging children to speak in public and develop the ability to present a clear logical argument.

"I was deeply impressed by the performance of these young people and I would like to thank the pupils, teachers and parents whose hard work helped make the event the success it was".