Primary school pupils are celebrating with joy today after being crowned the overall winner of a national solar panel competition. 

Stoneydown Park Primary School in Pretoria Avenue, beat off hundreds of schools to scoop the top prize - £15,000 worth of solar panels. 

By winning the 'Run or Sun' Friends of the Earth competition, the Walthamstow school is expected to save around £8,000 in energy costs each year.   

Schools who entered the competition were asked to submit creative entries created by pupils on the theme of 'the sun'.

Over 7,500 people voted in support of Stoneydown's solar-powered inventions, designed by years 3 to 6 children during science lessons.  

Kettles, hair dryers and boats were among the ideas from the children, but judges were particularly impressed with their YouTube video montage of inventions and its accompanying song 'beautiful flowers'.  

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Headteacher Jayne Cominetti, said: "I am absolutely thrilled that Stoneydown has won this fantastic competition to have solar panels at our school.

"We have had amazing support from children, staff, parents & many people in the wider community which has been massively appreciated.

"This means a great deal for us as we are really committed to educating children about the environment so this will be a wonderful legacy for generations of Stoneydown children to come.

"This is a very exciting day, one of great joy and celebration, and we can’t wait to get our solar panels installed."

Friends of the Earth executive director Andy Atkins described Stoneydown as "worthy winners" and said it was "high time" the government and local councils make it is easier to finance and install solar energy.