Two pupils at a Sutton academy have started their own school chess club.

Grace Hovey (year 5), and Will Mead (year 6) approached Leamington Primary and Nursery head teacher Kaye McGuire with the idea.

She said: “Grace and Will demonstrated amazing leadership skills with their desire to run a club during lunchtime break.

“Not only that, Grace also wrote to Smyths Toys to see if it would be willing to donate chess sets to the school so that more children could take part.”

The Mansfield store sent three chess sets to get the club started.

Now Grace and Will are running the club daily, enjoy teaching fellow pupils how to play the game, and have even arranged their own tournament.

Grace said not enough youngsters are learning the game. “I like chess because it isn’t very well known,” she added. “It’s quite an old game, 2,500 years-old, and I think it should become more popular.

“I didn’t know chess before, but then Will taught me. It’s quite hard and there are a lot of rules. I was so excited when Smyths Toys gave us the sets.”

Will, who was taught to play by his parents, said: “I hope the club will grow and more people will enjoy chess. I hope it will become the biggest club in school.”