STUDENTS who designed a board game to promote sustainable development have experienced their first taste of success in the world of business.

The pupils, from Egglescliffe School, in Eaglescliffe, Stockton, took part in a project to market green industrial techniques and decided a board game dealing with the environmental and financial implications would educate and entertain players.

Organisers North East Process Industrial Cluster (Nepic), at Wilton, on Teesside, and sponsor BASF, at Seal Sands, were so impressed by the Go For Green game, the prototype has now been professionally produced and is to be loaned out to other schools.

Year ten students Josh Cooper, Tom Loughram, Ruth Dewhirst and Rachel Dewhirst, along with their teacher, David Longfield, developed the two-tier game.

Headteacher Angela Darnell said: "I'm very proud of the students because they have done a really great job. The game, which is a bit like Monopoly, with chance cards and things, is very nice.

"The fact the game is being used in both industry and schools is quite something. We will certainly be using it as part of our science curriculum."

Leila Elliott, science education unit manager for Nepic, said "The outcome of this project surpassed all expectations and demonstrated yet again how creative and enterprising the young scientists in the Tees Valley region can be when given the opportunity and encouragement to be innovative."

David Ryder, quality assurance technical co-ordinator and team leader of the education group of BASF, said: "I was truly impressed with the way the students recognised that, along with industries investing in minimising their environmental impact, they also need to maintain their financial position, and that there is a fine balance between operating and being environmentally sustainable."