A STUDENT who was bored with the Royal Festival Hall has won a prize for her attempt to improve it.

Pupils from Newstead Wood School, Avebury Road, Orpington, scooped the three top positions in the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) competition.

They had to take a well-known London building or monument and redesign it to 21st-century needs.

Laura Gallop, 12, won the competition for 11 to 16-year-olds and was presented with her award at Croydon Library.

She said: "I felt the existing Royal Festival Hall was quite boring and needed to be made much more interesting. My design has a raised amphitheatre with a closing roof in case of bad weather.

"I hope it would make lots more people want to attend concerts."

Alice Roseberry-Haynes, 12, came second and Lily Shoebridge, 12, came third.