PICTURES: A selection of pictures for media use can be downloaded HERE

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The team from Debden Park High School were judged the winners of this year's Epping Forest Schools Parliamentary Debating Competition held by Epping Forest MP Dame Eleanor Laing.

The winning team of Year 11 students Max Bolton and Amelie Ashton were presented with the trophy, and the school will host the competition next year.

The  West Hatch High School team of Year 12 students Hannah Saunders and Luke Drummond-Poynter were runners-up while a prize for the Most Promising Newcomer was awarded to Epping St John's School student Lewis Martin.

This year's Motion was 'That this House believes that global warming is a myth'.

Both the winners and runners-up had to speak Against the Motion which left the audience undecided when it came to the vote with the 'Speaker' for the evening, Dame Eleanor, declaring the result a 'split vote'.

Dame Eleanor said: "Once again the standard of debating was extremely high and everyone in the audience, myself included, learnt much about global warming thanks to the excellent research that the students had undertaken in their preparation work.

"It was great to see some new faces, and to welcome back some students who have taken part before.

"I am sure all the students will have learnt much from their experience of public speaking which will be of benefit to them in their future careers - perhaps even as politicians!"