BROOKFIELD School pupil Laura Batten has scooped a prestigious UK Young Environmentalist of the Year award.

The 14-year-old travelled to the Dorchester Hotel in London for a glittering awards ceremony where she received her Exxon Mobil Young Environmentalist of the Year Award.

She beat a national field of hundreds of hopefuls with her project on the exploitation of horses.

Laura said: "I chose to research this topic because I have always loved horses and I was horrified at the ill-treatment which some of them suffer.

"I focused particularly on the international trade in horse meat and the cruelty associated with it.

"What I found out was sometimes quite distressing, but I am really pleased that I took part in the competition and I am really thrilled to have won."

Her sister Chloe also entered the competition and was highly commended for her entry.

Laura's winner's prize is a conservation holiday for two to Devon which she can take next summer.