BUDDING young economists number-crunched their way into the finals of a competition where they set the interest rate.

Pupils from John Hampden Grammar School, High Wycombe competed in the southern England area finals of The Bank of England/Times interest rate challenge.

In the contest teams of four took on the role of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee.

They were asked to make a presentation about economic conditions and inflation for Bank of England judges at the event in Guildford, Surrey yesterday.

Among the complex issues, they were quizzed on what level of interest rate they would set to meet the Government's inflation target of 2 per cent.

The pupils from the Marlow Hill school were pipped to the post by a team from Peter Symonds' College in Winchester.

The winners will go on to compete for a £10,000 prize at the national final to be held at the Bank of England on March 14.