YOUNG designers at the cutting edge of technology used Lego to win a total of £2,500 in cash for their school.

The pupils at Stanley School of Technology beat off competition from six other local schools to win £1,000 by designing a virtual reality treadmill, which would allow users to exercise, be entertained and control household appliances in one place.

The victory meant the youngsters qualified for a regional final at Sunderland Football Club's Stadium of Light against other schools from across the region, where they also received £1,500 cash.

The team's teacher, Lee Elliot, said that the youngsters, Amanda Waugh, 13, Danny Patterson, 13, Gemma Hodgson, 14, Lisa Davies, 14, Sarah Miller, 14 and Mark Appleton, 15, were asked by The Regional Technology Centre, in Sunderland, to design technology which might be useful in the homes of the future.

After they designed their Lego treadmill they moved on to the Stadium of Light final.

Mr Elliot said: "It was a really hard test for them.

"They were given a brief by local firm Filtronic Broadband Limited to look at resolving the real problem of testing, in volume, very small microwave modules.

"The solution presented by the group was an automated line that allowed the modules to be tested without removing them from their assembly boats."

Robert Dry, of Filtronic Broadband, said: "For the Stanley team to come up with such a usable and innovative solution to a difficult challenge is a credit to them.