DOZENS of teenage girls battled it out yesterday in a contest to find the best cheerleaders in the district.

Pupils from Davenant Foundation School, Debden Park High, St John's and King Harold School all took part in the “cheer-off” competition, at the end of a ten-week course.

Girls from King Harold School, in Broomstick Hall Road, Waltham Abbey, were crowned the eventual winners after impressing the judges with an acrobatic display.

Julia Gardiner of the West Essex Schools Partnership, which helped organise the event with funding from the Sport Essex group, said: “We came up with the idea as we're always looking for different activities to get young people engaged and interested in sport, and we thought cheerleading would be ideal.

“It combines dance and gymnastics, and I think all the girls really enjoyed that.

“We had quite a few parents show up to give their support and everyone really enjoyed themselves.”

Most of the schools involved will continue to run their cheerleading clubs, and all participants have been invited to the first ever county schools cheerleading competition, which is due to be held in June.

Pupils from Epping Primary School also took part in the event, which was held at Debden Park High School in Loughton.