PUPILS at Chester-le-Street’s Park View Academy have reached the regional final of a German spelling competition.

The youngsters, who are in year seven and have only recently started learning the language passed the test of learning to spell 50 words.

They joined the Spelling Bee lunch time club where they practiced and competed against each other on how many words from the list that they could spell in a minute.

They made it through to the second stage of the competition after spelling 100 words in German.

This has secured them a place at the regional final at Newcastle University on March 26 where they will compete against students from other schools in spelling 150 different words.

German teacher Caroline Rowell said: “I have been delighted with the effort and determination the students have exhibited during the spelling bee. We are very excited about the regional final in Newcastle.”