PUPILS from a Swindon school are hoping they will be crowned kings and queens when they head for a chess tournament later this year.

The Under 11 chess team from Lawn Primary has made it through to the semi-finals of the English Primary Schools Chess Association Zonal competition.

Last week the team, which is made up of Harry Cleeves, Joshua Whitehead, Gavin Cowie, Oliver Hopkins, Megan Cleeves and Adam Burroughs, travelled to Millfield School in Somerset to take part in the competition.

They came first and will now be representing the school at the semi-finals, which are being held at Pontins, Brean Sands, in May.

Megan, nine, said she was looking forward to the contest.

"I think we will be able to get through to the finals because we have a really good team," she said.

And teammate Joshua Whitehead, aged 10, thinks they will make the final too. We have a really good team, and we made it through to the finals last year," he said. "I like playing chess, especially winning."

Chris Brown, headteacher at Lawn Primary said it was a great achievement.

"Traditionally Lawn Primary has always had a chess club and the talent has always been particularly strong," he said.

"This year under the excellent coaching of Robert Baker they have done incredibly well making it through to the semi-finals of the zonal competition."

And he said that coming first at Millfield School was fantastic.

"Most of the other competitors were from private schools where chess forms part of the curriculum.

"So for our team who practice in their own time to win was a particularly victorious moment.

"I am very proud of all the pupils who play chess for the school, including those who don't make the team.

"They all work very hard and deserve praise."