An 18-year-old pupil representing the UK won a bronze medal at an international physics competition in Zurich.

Year 13 Bianca Andrei was the only girl in the British team and one of 25 in the International Physics Olympiad’s final, which was attended by more than 400 young people from 90 countries.

It was the second medal for The Chigwell School student, who also represented the UK in Mumbai in last year’s contest.

After two five-hour exams, which included topics not covered in A-level physics, the young physicist came out on top and was rewarded with a tour of the CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, a cruise on Lake Lucerne and a visit to Geneva.

She said: “The questions were extremely interesting and very challenging, as everything was aimed at university level.

“I enjoyed the challenge and all the hard work was rewarded with several trips around Switzerland.”

Bianca hopes to study natural sciences at Cambridge University next year.

Headmaster Michael Punt said: “We are very proud of Bianca who has worked very hard and is a very clever science pupil. It’s a great honour to be selected to represent your country at the Physics Olympiad and I am so pleased that it’s a girl that has been selected.”