By SARAH HARKER

A BUDDING scientist will be heading off to London for a Royal Society lecture after winning first prize in the regional final of a top competition.

Mitchell Moore, aged 12, a year eight pupil at Woolston High School, came first in a competition run by the Royal Institute, beating entrants from all over the north west.

Pupils from across the country had to write an essay explaining why they want to be a scientist.

Mitchell was chosen as the north west representative to attend the Royal Society lecture after he submitted his entry to judges. The essay explained how keen astronomer Mitchell would like to travel to distant stars and observe how they work.

Woolston pupils were given the chance to enter the competition after they were visited by Dr Tom Paterson, a lecturer in organic chemistry at Salford University.

Dr Paterson, a Royal Society professor, gave a lecture on getting started in chemistry.

The young scientists experimented with a range of chemical reactions and explored the history and development of the subject.

Dave Warburton, community manager at Woolston High, said: "The school is really proud of Mitchell's achievement, he enjoys science and is extremely good at it."

Mitchell said: "I was very surprised to hear I'd won, but I'm very excited. The lecture will be about robots and cybertechnology."

Mitchell will travel down to London with his grandad on December 14.

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