Three journalism students from the Scottish Centre for Journalism Studies have been singled out for praise after helping an energy company practice its emergency procedures.

Students from the centre, based at the University of Strathclyde, took part in mock press conferences with staff from British Energy and a range of emergency services spokespeople.

The simulated exercise followed a ‘nuclear leak’ at Torness Power Station, which would have been Scotland’s worst nuclear disaster.

Students put their journalism skills to the test, firing questions at the assembled panel, and three trainees were then singled out for their particularly probing questions.

Andrew Davis-Cole, Mark Henderson and Manisha Singh each received £100 prize money.

Judges said Andrew was noticeable for his “forensic approach”, and posed questions that were not easily rebuffed but had to be answered.

They said: “He was quick to think through new lines of attack and responded well to the pressure, to pose yet another awkward question in his mild-mannered yet forthright approach.”

Mark was praised for his preparation, which judges said was demonstrated when he asked several questions which had to be comprehensively and effectively answered, rather than being dodged with a waffling response.

Judges said: “The panel noted that on the occasions that the respondents were really caught out and ill at ease, Mark seemed to have been the cause.”

Manisha was also praised for “highlighting some contradictions in the responses of interviewees, effectively citing them and demanding clarity”.

Judges said she did on a whole array of occasions, and her relentless approach wore respondents down.