STUDENTS visited parliament for a science event.

Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, welcomed pupils from Basildon Upper Academy and Woodlands School who then went on to question MPs on science policy.

Mr Metcalfe wrote to local secondary schools inviting students with an interest in science to represent South Basildon and East Thurrock at the event.

Ramy El-Khodary was chosen from the Basildon Upper Academy and Lucy Grunwell from Woodlands School.

The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow MP, opened the proceedings, before questions were posed to a panel of MPs including Mr Metcalfe who championed engineering as a career choice. The Minister for Science and Universities, David Willets MP, also answered questions including one from Basildon’s Lucy Grunwell.

Mr Metcalfe said: “Both Ramy and Lucy were brilliant representatives of South Basildon and East Thurrock and a great credit to their respective schools. I hope that they enjoyed the experience and that it might have inspired them to consider a career in science.”