STUDENTS learning a language could fall following the Brexit vote, a director of language has said.

Ten high-achieving students from Alec Hunter Academy in Braintree visited Cambridge University, trying to revive language learning.

All of the Year 10 students are already studying at least one language, other than English, at GCSE.

However across the UK, schools struggle to take these students on to A-Level as there are not enough language teachers.

The event’s organiser, Jocelyn Wyburd, Director of Cambridge’s Language Centre, said: “The number of students studying languages at A-Level has been falling for many years and there is a risk that the recent EU Referendum result will accelerate this decline.

"But the message from business and universities is clear – the UK workforce lacks language skills and to compete on a global stage, our country needs its young people to take up languages more than ever before."

The event included three language workshops designed to give the students a taste of university-style language learning.

Trevor Lawn, headteacher at Alec Hunter Academy, said: “We highly value the invitation to bring our students to Cambridge University, a major international seat of learning, to be inspired by the prospect of studying languages to a higher level.

"Our students are always made to feel very welcome and come back to school reinvigorated in their own learning.

"We know how important it is that our young people regard languages as the ticket to a world of opportunities and there is no doubt that their visit to Cambridge leaves a lasting impression.”