THREE brothers have proved they are streets ahead of the rest when it comes to numbers.

Mustafa Jasim, eight, has just come second out of 22,000 children in a national mathematics competition.

His younger brother, Ameen, aged seven, came 22nd and his older brother Mohammed, 11, came 51st in the same competition.

All three like to do maths for fun at home as well as their maths lessons at St Lawrence Primary School on Heslington Road, York, and hope to become scientists or doctors when they grow up.

Both their parents are mathematically minded - their father is an engineer and their mother a maths teacher.

Father Yahya Jasim Harbi said: "I'm proud of them. We always encourage them and we advise them."

"We would like to thank Mohammed, Mustafa and Ameen's teachers at St Lawrence's Primary School for helping them in their work.

"They understand all their topics at school and they always get encouragement and support from their teachers.

"When they have any maths problems or when we cannot explain some questions, they always ask their teachers to get the optimum solutions."

He praised the teachers for the way they keep the parents informed about the curriculum and how the children are doing at school.

All three took part in the Sumdog national competition, using a game-based learning system which can be played online at school and at home and is designed to improve children's numeracy and literacy through challenges.

Leanne Frear, maths leader at St. Lawrence’s said, “We are so impressed. All the children are really enthusiastic to improve their maths using Sumdog, but Mustafa’s effort and perseverance to finish second out of all those children across the country is absolutely amazing!”