TWO seven-year-olds from North Walsham Infant School have battled their way across the board to become county chess champions in a national schools' contest.

TWO seven-year-olds from North Walsham Infant School have battled their way across the board to become county chess champions in a national schools' contest.

Marisa Córdoba and Connor Parsons won the girls' and boys' categories for their age group in the Norfolk round of the event, held in Norwich.

And both have earned the right to represent the county at July's national finals, due to take place in Manchester.

The Manor Road school ran a twice-weekly after-school chess club over the winter and the pair's path to glory began with victory in their school's own chess tournament.

Head teacher Clare Fletcher said it was the third year that the school had entered the county heats and she was delighted with the double success.