An Ilford student won judges over in a public speaking competition with a message of hope on Wednesday.

Anisa Lone, 14, scooped the top prize in the Redbridge final of the Jack Petchey Foundation’s “Speak Out” challenge.

She competed against 15 other hopefuls from schools across the borough but stole the show with her speech “Dream On”.

Anisa’s message was to keep striving for goals through difficulties and doubts.

She said the experience of speaking to the crowd at the Ursuline Academy, in Morland Road, Ilford was “amazing” and “emotional” experience.

Anisa, from Seven Kings High School, won an iPod Touch and will now go on to the grand final of the competition on July 1.

Second place went to Tabassum Hoque, from Loxford School of Science and Technology, with her speech “Mummy” and in third place was Sandra Serwaa, from Wanstead High School, with her speech titled “Everything Disney”

Around 550 Year 10 students from 13 Redbridge schools had a day of training in public speaking ahead of the event.

The Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Felicity Banks, who presented the awards, said: “It was a privilege to hear so many inspiring speeches from the young people of Redbridge.”