A SOUTH Lakeland primary school pupil will enjoy a formal lunch at the House of Lords with her parents today - her prize for winning a national essay writing competition.

Mollie McHardy, a Year 6 pupil at Heversham St Peter's CE Primary School, was one of 600 children from around the country to enter the competition run by the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues. The children were asked to write about why virtues are important. Mollie's essay and one other were picked as the two best in the country.

"Mollie's family, teachers and classmates are very proud of her but not surprised that she won," said Cleo Cunningham, the school's head teacher. "Mollie is a talented writer who always tries her best in everything she does. "