THE engineers of tomorrow were given a science lesson with a difference at a leading North-East steel firm.

The year six pupils from Fishburn Primary School took a break from the classroom to visit Finley Structures, in Newton Aycliffe, to see the process of raw steel being made into a full structure.

The youngsters were first given a 3D demonstration by a structural engineer, showing them a virtual construction on screen, before going on to the shop floor to see the steel being fabricated by the most advanced computer numerically- controlled machinery.

They then went to see the steel being erected at Durham County Council’s £10m North East Technology Park (NETPark) development, near Sedgefield.

Teacher, Danny Eason said: “The afternoon covered maths, science and art, but it also demonstrated team skills and people working together, so it was hugely beneficial for the children and they thoroughly enjoyed it.

“The fascination for them was seeing the steel being prepared at Finley Structures first, how the structural engineer designed it then going on to the shop floor to see it being put together.”

The visit was a joint venture by Willmott Dixon, the firm responsible for building the science park at NETPark, and one of its major sub-contractors, Finley Structures.

The children will produce a short film about their visit for their social media site.