A STOURBRIDGE schoolgirl is through to the finals of a nationwide competition for young journalists ready to cover the toughest subjects.

Molly Hall, aged nine, is among the last ten contestants in her age category for Amnesty International’s Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year award.

Pedmore Church of England Primary School pupil Molly was among 3,000 entrants for the prestigious awards and she is one of the youngest finalists.

Her article about the disastrous effect of palm oil production on the Penan tribe in Borneo will now be judged by a panel of experts including Guardian writer Joseph Harker, award-winning author Kathryn Cave and the 2011 Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year - Angus Kirk.

Molly said: “I feel really proud and really surprised. I hope the Penan tribe will be able to live in the rainforest. I am trying not to eat food like chocolate with palm oil in it.

"If everyone does this there will be no point in making it any more. We need to think how we would feel if our homes were chopped down to make palm oil.”

The competition, where people aged seven to 14 are asked to write an article on a human rights issue, is run by Amnesty International UK, the Guardian and the secondary school magazine SecEd.

Emily Drabble, contributing editor of Guardian Teacher Network, said: “This dramatic story of the plight of the Penan tribe in the forests of Borneo is powerfully told.

"It's a very emotive piece, but then cuts to the facts - what the loggers are doing there, that we are buying food made of palm oil, how long it takes to cut down the forest. It makes you want to find out more about the subject, very nicely done.”

The winners of the competition will be announced in May.