A TRIO of gifted young scientists have analysed their way to the finals of a national chemistry competition.

Chigwell School pupils Luthien Liu, Andrew Hankins and Nicole Landon, all 17, made it to the final of the Royal Society of Chemistry Schools’ Analyst Competitions after triumphing in the Essex heats.

The team of Lower Sixth classmates spent two days battling through an undergraduate-level research project in the University of Bristol’s chemistry laboratories from June 26.

They were required to work together, using equipment only available to second and third year undergraduates, to analyse information and create a final report.

The Chigwell chemists were not overall winners, but went home with individual prizes and a £100 cheque for the school.

Head of Sixth Form Andrew Long said: "The students worked very hard indeed and everyone should be very proud of their level of achievement in this prestigious nationwide competition."