A group of young filmmakers put Barnet on the map after they scooped the top prize in an anti-smoking film competition.

Alexander Dodwell, Tata Abusah, Rachel Gibson, Shaelle Twum-Barimah and Ben Sheldon won the judges’ choice category at the Cut Films awards for ‘Smoking Bullet’, and each received an iPad.

Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle presented the Barnet pupils with the award at the ceremony at Bafta’s Piccadilly headquarters on Wednesday, July 1.

The team, from Barnet council’s Canada Villa youth centre, also won the best film in the 12 to 15-year-old category, while a group from Jcoss Jewish Community School came third in the same category for their film, ‘Stamp it out’.

Ben Sheldon said: “The original idea came from thinking about if someone was about to jump off a building, everyone would stop what they were doing and be shocked, or do something. Smoking is something that kills a lot of people but yet no one makes a fuss."

Councillor Reuben Thompstone, chairman of the children, education, libraries and safeguarding committee, said: “This is wonderful news and I want to congratulate everyone involved on their success. It is not a surprise that we have talented young people in the borough – but this doesn’t make the news any less deserving.”

Two Barnet pupils, Emily May-McWalters and Luke Shrubb, were also awarded in the achievement in youth participation category for their anti-smoking campaigning.