Pupils' heads were buzzing with dictionary brain-benders when a Bletchingley school held its first version of the ever-popular schools' competition, the Spelling Bee.

The Hawthorns School challenged its children to do battle, remembering how to spell tricky, difficult, long and complicated words.

The pupils were split into junior and senior sections and had to spell aloud a range of words carefully selected from a prescribed list given to them a few days before the final.

In the final, Guy Appleby from Reigate won the junior section, just pipping Aaron Gilchrist to the title by spelling 'hieroglyphic' correctly.

In the senior section, Jonathan Pollard from Outwood defeated Oscar McNab in a sudden death decider by spelling 'psychology' without mishap.

A spokeswoman for The Hawthorns School said: “Well done to all the participants and we look forward to another exciting competition next year.”