As debate continues to rage around Brexit, schoolchildren will have their say on the issue for the second time in two years.

Organised by pro-Leave Conservative MP Eleanor Laing, the upcoming Epping Forest Schools Parliamentary Debating Competition will debate the motion: “This house believes that Britain’s influence in the world will be greater once it leaves the European Union.”

It is the second time in a row that Britain’s membership of the EU has been discussed at the competition.

Last year the motion at the event, which is organised every year by Mrs Laing, was: “This house believes that it would be in Britain’s best interests to remain within the European Union.”

In 2015 the result was closer than the June referendum with teams split 50 – 50, although Roding Valley High School’s Brexit-supporting team were judged to come out on top.

At this year’s debate, pairs of pupils from eight schools in the district will take sides on the divisive issue.

Teams from West Hatch High School, Epping St John's School, Roding Valley High School and Debden Park High School will speak for the motion while the Chigwell School, King Harold Academy, Braeside School and Davenant Foundation School teams will speak against it.

West Hatch head teacher Frances Howarth said: “We have supported this debating competition since it started and value it greatly.

“By instigating it deputy speaker Eleanor Laing has given students in Epping Forest a wonderful opportunity to experience the cut and thrust of the House of Commons for themselves.”

The competition takes place at Roding Valley High School, Loughton, on November 18.

Mrs Laing said: "I am very much looking forward to the evening which always sees a high standard of debate from the participating students.

"It is certainly the hot topic in UK politics at the moment and it will be interesting to see the arguments which are put forward by the teams this year."