A SALISBURY schoolgirl has been chosen as a finalist in a writing competition.

Seven Year 5 students at Leaden Hall entered the inaugural classics competition run by Canford School in Wimborne which asked children to write a 500-word essay entitled Who is the greatest classical hero?

Hannah Bird, Sophie Dennis, Tabitha Elwell, Isobel Gilligan, Georgia Jarrett, Tilly McDougall and Sasha Moore, all aged nine or ten, worked hard on their essays and Isobel was chosen as one of the finalists.

Her essay will be included in a bound volume of those chosen as finalists.

Leaden Hall headmistress Julia Eager said: “Such dedication to their task by Year 5 girls is evidence of the girls’ outstanding maturity.”