AN MP is supporting an annual joke telling competition designed to build schoolchildren’s communication skills.

Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock is encouraging schools to take part in Voice Box, organised by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Schools should hold their joke-telling contests between October and November and then submit the funniest joke.

Mr Metcalfe said: “Communication is a fundamental skill and has the most profound and positive impact on our lives – from our social and emotional development to our behaviour, learning and educational attainment, employment prospects and life chances. It impacts on how we interact with other people, how we understand them and, in turn, how we are understood.

“I urge both mainstream and specialist primary schools in Basildon and Thurrock to bring laughter into their classrooms this autumn by taking part in this competition”.