A CARDROSS teenager has helped his school move a step closer to the final of a national public speaking competition.

Paul Losekoot, who lives in the village and attends Our Lady and St Patrick's High School, and his classmate Aidan Lynn triumphed in the Argyll and Clyde area semi-final of the competition, organised by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Aidan and Paul saw off stiff competition from Callum Friel and Jay Taylor, of Park Mains High School in Erskine, and Rebecca Gordon and Kara Leck from St Columba's High School in Gourock, in the latest stage of the competition, held at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Thursday.

All six pupils spoke on the subject of when the law should begin to treat children as adults – and all pointed out the inconsistencies in, for example, being able to join the Army before the age of 16 and not being able to buy combat video games such as Call of Duty until reaching 18.

Paul said: “Perhaps we should remove all age limits and rely on parental control and common sense.”

And Paul finished his speech with a George Benson lyric as advice for today's adults when he said: “Children are our future. Teach us well, and let us lead the way.”

In his speech Aidan, from Dumbarton, said: “It's very difficult for us to know when we are an adult.

“We can go to war, but we can't pretend to go to war.

“But a one-size-fits-all approach wouldn't work. Some people my age seem closer to four than 14.”

Head judge Justin Farrell, assistant procurator fiscal for North Strathclyde, who was joined on the judging panel by local Police Scotland chief inspector Graeme MacDiarmid and Dumbarton sheriff William Gallacher, told the six pupils: "The standard of speeches, and the quality of the speakers, has been so high.

“A good public speaker is someone who can inspire, inform and persuade, and we have all been inspired by the speeches you gave, as well as informed and persuaded.

“You each deserve your place in the semi-finals, and you should all be extremely proud of yourselves.”

Christopher Smith, head teacher at Our Lady and St Patrick's High School, said: "We had the regional heat here in the school a few weeks ago and obviously we won that, but I was so impressed with the standard from all of the schools. It was very impressive.

"Both of our boys were highly professional and put a lot of preparation into the their work with their teachers. They did an incredible job and we're all very proud of them."

Paul and Aidan will now take part in the North Strathclyde final of the competition, at Paisley Sheriff Court on Wednesday, March 29, hoping to win a place in the Scotland-wide semi-final.