PUPILS have built an electric car, wind turbine and a bridge to demonstrate their engineering skills.

Year nine pupils took part in the Derwentside Schools Engineering Challenge and had their work tested by experts.

The efforts of over 100 young people were assessed in the sports hall at Derwentside College.

Points were given for design, style and suitability of the work, with Blackfyne Community School, Consett, scooping first prize in the district.

The idea was to generate a renewable, environmentally-friendly source of energy to power transport.

Derwentside Engineering Forum organised the challenge and matched the eight schools up with engineering companies to act as mentors to teams.

They have spent the last ten weeks working on their projects after school and in their spare time.

The forum's chairman John Lyle said: "You have got to take your hats off. These kids were interested, they wanted to do well and showed a great deal of enthusiasm.

"It has been a really amazing ten weeks and as time goes on you see the commitment to the projects grow.

"It is about creating awareness about what engineering might be like as career."

Other schools that took part were: Stanley School of Technology; Moorside Community College, Consett; Greencroft School, Annfield Plain; St. Bede's RC Comprehensive, Lanchester; Tanfield Comprehensive, Stanley; Villa real special school, Consett; and Hare Law Special School, Stanley.