A TEAM of five teenagers have won through to the national finals of a competition to find the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Olivia Fishwick, Isobel Fishwick, Holly Lightowler, Joshua Korucu and Cameron White from St Bede’s Catholic Comprehensive in Peterlee have won through to the finals of the National Science and Engineering Competition 2016.

The pupils, who are aged 13-14, designed an automatic alarm which will alert carers if an elderly or inform person suffers a fall.

The team won the North-east title and will go on to represent the region at the national awards being held at the annual Big Bang Fair at the NEC in Birmingham from March 16-19.

Joining the Peterlee team in the finals will be a team from Emmanuel College in Gateshead developed an indicator glove to make cycling safer at night.

Imran Khan, chief executive of the British Science Association which runs the competition, said: “The standard of work from the finalists this year has been incredibly high, and it is so inspiring to see such creative and thought-provoking projects from the young people who enter the Competition.

“It is fantastic to see these young scientists and engineers go on and become advocates for science, both in the sector and beyond”.