HUNDREDS of school pupils are taking part in a competition to design a piece of clothing using science in an innovative way.

More than 600 youngsters aged 11 to 14 at Framwellgate School Durham are working on the Chemistry behind the Couture contest, which was launched at the school on Monday.

The best five entries will be modelled during a fashion show to be held at the nearby Science and Learning Centre North East on Friday, March 18.

The judging panel will include fashion designer and artist Helen Storey.

Organiser Catherine Purvis-Mawson, from the school, said: "The aim of this competition is to encourage students to think about science in a new way and explore how it can affect our clothes for the better, whether that is through the fabric or the design itself."

School pupils have also just heard they are finalists in the National Science and Engineering Competition, for innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics projects. The final will take place during the Big Bang school science exhibition, to be held in London from March 10 to 12.