KENT will be representing the South East at the national finals of the Young Consumer of the Year competition in Manchester thanks to a win by Chatham House Grammar School at Ramsgate in the regional finals.

The pupils beat off a challenge from William Parker School from East Sussex and Portsmouth Grammar School in the heat held at County Hall, Maidstone.

Kent County Council’s Trading Standards Service hosts the regional event, sponsored by The Co-operative Group and the national contest organised by the Trading Standards Institute involves schools from across the country competing to be the overall winners.

Former Radio Kent presenter Barbara Sturgeon compered the eight-round question and answer session and the contestants were tested on issues including money, finance, food and drink, social responsibility and the environment, Europe and consumer rights.

Chatham House students, who won MP3 players and a digital camera for their school, will now be revising hard for the national final which will be held during the TSI conference in Manchester on June 26-28.

KCC chairman Fred Wood-Brignall, who presented the awards, said: “I would like to thank everybody for taking part. Kent have won and obviously that pleases me no end but all three teams have done their schools very proud indeed.”

KCC lead member for Community Services, Elizabeth Tweed, said: "The competition helps raise awareness of many consumer issues and how important it is for us all to understand our rights and the role of businesses to trade fairly.”