YOUNGSTERS from across the region gathered at RAF Leeming to build and race the ultimate rocket car to fire them into the finals of this year’s Race for the Line challenge.

Around 200 Year Six children from around 20 schools took part in the UK-wide Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative.

They had just a couple of hours to design and build a car which was then fitted with a small charge which was fired along a wire to keep it on the straight and narrow - with the winning design reaching more than 60mph.

The children were helped in their task by RAF Leeming’s enthusiastic team of STEM ambassadors at RAF Leeming.

Sgt Kev Stannard said: “I’ve been involved for a few years, and they always come up with something different.

"It’s all about inspiring the next generation to consider a career in a STEM-based area – whether that is with the military or not.”

Winning schools for the day were Boroughbridge High School for North Yorkshire and Withernsea High School for East Yorkshire.

Both will go onto the national finals, which will be held at RAF Wittering next month.