BUDDING engineers are preparing for national finals after taking part in a rocket competition.

Pupils at the Gilberd School took part in the Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge at Stow Maries Aerodrome.

The two teams - one made up of all girls and the other of all boys - built rockets in the classroom and then put them to the test in the annual contest.

Every year it sees pupils across the UK design a rocket which must be launched to a height of 775 feet, have a flight duration of 41-43 seconds and then land safely - all while carrying a raw egg which must not break.

The competition received more than 45 entries from across the region, with the top teams being chosen to progress to the national finals.

The girls team, made up of Charlotte Hooker, Erin Jayne Penson, Lauren Brown, Jenna Kedian, Lillie Collins, Molly Chansuwan, Milly Presland, Yasmin Salih and Ella Tracey, has now made the national finals.

STEM teacher Matthew Wilby said: “Having no prior experience of rocketry, the two teams have worked exceptionally hard to build rockets in line with the specifications and we are really proud that the girls’ hard-work has allowed them to progress to the national finals, they are currently completing modifications to their rocket before they fly it at BMFA Buckminster next week."

The challenge is the largest model rocket event in the UK, with winners going on to compete in the international fly-off against the American, French and Japanese winning teams at the Paris Air Show.