PUPILS have been showing off their entrepreneurial skills to design a revolutionary truck of the future for one of the world's largest and most recognisable companies.

The inaugural Fit for the Future challenge, part of Foundation of Light's Premier League Enterprise programme, tasked more than 130 students with improving Caterpillar's iconic 740B articulated truck.

Winners Dene Community School, of Peterlee, east Durham, wowed a panel of judges at the Stadium of Light with their innovative ideas, including using a carbon fibre and steel composite framework and revolutionary tyres to increase fuel efficiency.

A jubilant Jake Hartley, 12, said: "We were really nervous and didn't think we would win, but thankfully we did. It was definitely a team effort.

"It's exciting because our ideas could become a reality."

The school will now present their designs to Caterpillar Peterlee's managing director Phil Handley early next year.

Derrick Merrington, section manager of Caterpillar's Apprenticeship programme, said: "Well done to Dene House, they did very, very well. Their presentation was brilliant but there was little to choose between the teams.

"We gave each school a blank piece of paper with a brief of designing us a truck for the future; something completely different to what we have now.

"The best ideas are often the simplest, and each group came up with some fantastic designs."

The 10-week Premier League Enterprise programme uses Sunderland AFC and the North- East's biggest companies as business examples, inspiring young people to achieve and raise aspirations through a series of activities and nationally-recognised qualifications.