Never mind the Bash Street Kids - meet the Mash Street Kids from Hitchin!

A much-loved weekly comic has awarded a Hitchin school the honour of Britain's funniest class.

Hitchin's Whitehill Junior School landed the award from the renowned comic The Beano, after coming first in a national vote to find the funniest joke.

Speaking to Hitchin Nub News at Hitchin Railway Station on Wednesday lunchtime, where there is now a giant billboard honouring the school, Whitehill's acclaimed headteacher Steve Mills (pictured below at the event) shared their story: "Benny, one of my Year 5's came to me a while ago and spoke to me about this competition to find Britain's funniest class.

"I was away with my Year 6's just before half term and got an email from the Beano to say we'd been shortlisted.

"Two weeks later after the national vote we get a message from the Beano to say we've won the competition as Britain's funniest class.

"It means their joke and faces are now immortalised on a giant billboard outside Hitchin station - for those pupils to be treated like stars is fantastic.

"We are now Hitchin's version of the Bash Street Kids we are the Mash Street Kids."

Mr Mills,. Whitehill's good natured head, explained Mash Street Kids referred to young pupil Benny's award-winning joke - complete with knowing Beano reference: "What do you call a class of children who eat potatoes using their toes?

"Mash Street Kids..."

For the record Voyager Class from Hitchin's Whitehill Junior School earned a staggering 43.4% of the national vote.

Benny, whose joke won the award told Hitchin Nub News: "I feel really great. I made the joke up after thinking about the Beano and its characters.

"My family think it's really funny and so do my friends at school. They think it's really cool and they're really happy."

Beano writer and Hitchin resident Danny Pearson spoke to the wide-eyed Whitehill pupils at the railway station (above) - who loved the attention, not to mention being around a bona-fide comic-book writer.

Speaking to Hitchin Nub News popular Danny added: "It's so great to see so many happy faces - well done to everyone at Whitehill.

"To see the Beano hoarding outside Hitchin station is amazing."

See Hitchin Nub News soon for more from Danny on the news that Whitehill School can officially now boast the UK's funniest class - and see our Hitchin Nub News Facebook page now for live video from the event at Hitchin Railway Station here

See Hitchin Nub News for more from Whitehill School and their acclaimed head teacher Mr Mills soon