A FUTURE in the futures market looks a certainty for three Wirral girls after success in a national share dealing competition.

The girls, from Ridgeway High School, Noctorum, have reached the quarter-final stage of the ProShare National Investment Programme.

Open to schools and colleges, the programme is based on a series of investment challenges, starting with an imaginary portfolio of £50,000. The next challenge, to reach the semi-finals, is to produce an investment report on their portfolios and compete in a trading round.

The three students - Sally Burns, 15, Claire McCaffrey, 14, and Rachel Broadhurst, 15 - could win cash prizes . . . and also a multimedia computer system for their school.

Teacher Dianne Lloyd said: "I'm absolutely delighted for the girls, it's been great for them to learn about shares."

Sally Burns said: "It's been a good experience and I'm looking forward to being a millionaire when I'm older!"

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