EXTROVERT parliamentarian BorisJohnson, shadow minister for higher education and a high profile supporter of the classics, praised an "amazing" pan-European Latin competition for sixth formers, which included Malvern St James.

The competition took place on Saturday in Paris, Berlin and Malvern, and was aimed at bringing students from the three countries together to explore their heritage via a shared love of the classics.

The competition consisted of a cultural test about the myth of Europa, who gave her name to the continent, and a Latin translation into English, French or German. The students in the three participating countries were linked by webcam from a host centre and were in constant communication with each other.

Mr Johnson said: "There is nothing more important or beautiful than Latin; it unlocks a great treasury of ancient literature.

"I hope very much that we will be able to rebuild a single European consciousness - a sense of knowing where we came from - that goes with knowing Latin."