Hundreds of people from all over the world have had the chance to improve their English for free after winning a competition run by the British Council in partnership with English UK.

More than 200 of the UK's language schools offered a scholarship to the winners of the Let Your English Grow competition, held in autumn 2007 and 2008. Entrants had to write about why they want to learn English.

We've talked to some of the winners - who are from all ages and all professions - about how they enjoyed their time in the UK and the difference learning English here made to their lives. Some have come and gone, some are still studying here now. Many liked it so much that they paid to stay on and take longer courses.

The winners had lots of good news for us, because they all had a great time. Everyone told us that the UK is the best place to learn English, and that they really enjoyed the British culture and made lots of friends.

Click here to find out more about the difference learning English in the UK makes to people's lives.

And if you won a Let Your English Grow scholarship and would like to tell other people about it, please email susan@englishuk.com and we'll get in touch.