Youngsters have received top awards for their investigations into the best way to save water.

Pupils from Old Buckenham High School, near Attleborough, received first prize in the Anglian Water Waterwise Challenge, which encouraged pupils to find solutions to the county-wide problem of people consuming too much water.

Year nine students, Holly Spidy, 13, Jessica Diaper, 13, and Alice Smith, 14, wowed the judges with the clarity of their presentation and the breadth of their ideas.

Ormiston Victory Academy, of Great Yarmouth, was also praised in second place for their project, which received only four marks less than the winners.

Meanwhile, Lynn Grove High School in Gorelston, Attleborough High School, City of Norwich School and Ormiston Victory Academy also received their bronze British Science Association Awards.

The students were presented with certificates during an awards ceremony held at the Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich.

Jonathan Crisp, education executive for Anglian Water, said: 'These projects were very good and everyone should be immensely proud of what they achieved. We take the students' suggestions very seriously.'

The projects were organised by the Norwich and Waveney Enterprise Service.