BOOKLOVING pupils from Bancroft’s School have shown off their literary skills by winning a prestigious international reading contest.

Talented youngsters from the school in Woodford Green High Road, overcame fierce competition from across the globe, to claim the world title at the Kids Lit Quiz in South Africa.

Known as the “Olympic Games of Reading” - the annual contest pits teams of students aged between 11 and 13 against eachother to answer wide-ranging literary based questions.

The four Bancroft’s pupils from years seven and eight - Anna Tindall, Elana Kaymer, Francis Clark-Murray and Catriona Phillips - made it to the final in Johannesburg after winning the UK round of the contest against a host of other British schools.

They claimed the world crown after facing talented teams from China, New Zealand and South Africa, just pipping the New Zealanders to the post by one point during a nerve-racking final.

School spokeswoman, Karen Rogers said the youngsters took more from the trip than just the quiz title - visiting the township of Soweto, and enjoying a safari in a national park.

She said: “While in South Africa the teams were treated to a busy schedule of touring and they experienced many facets of modern South Africa, spending time in both Soweto and Sun City and viewing the amazing wildlife of the Pilanesberg National Park.

“The enduring friendships made while staying in St John’s College Johannesburg, where Nelson Mandela’s grandson is a pupil, and while touring around was another highlight of the visit.”