AN 18-year old Lymington student was invited to Parliament last week, after impressing in the Voice Box comedy award.

Joshua D’Arcy was one of the 25 youngsters who made it through to the Voice Box comedy awards final – the joke-telling competition organised by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) – on Wednesday, April 25.

The Southlands School student delighted the packed audience of politicians, parents and children at the Speaker’s House, Westminster with his joke:

“Why did the squashed tomato cross the road?

"To ketchup with the chicken!”

Joshua, who was presented with a Voice Box finalist certificate, said: “I was excited about telling my joke in Parliament and I wanted to make people laugh.”

Voice Box is an annual competition, which aims to remind people that there are children in every classroom who need support to help them speak and understand what is being said to them.

More than 10 per cent of children and young people have long term speech, language and communication needs which create barriers to communication or learning in everyday life.

Sir Desmond Swayne, MP for New Forest West, attended the event and added: “I’m delighted to support Joshua from Southlands at Voice Box.

“It has shown me how critical communication skills are in determining a child’s life chances.

“I really value the work done by teachers and speech and language therapists to enable others, including children, to communicate more easily.”