HOW often do you leave the deli counter with too much or too little of the foods on offer?

Well if the bright young things at Thornleigh Salesian College have anything to do with it, that could soon be a thing of the past as they look to develop an app to take the guesswork out of it.

Joe Lythgoe and Kieran Hennighan made it through to the finals in the prestigious national Apps for Good Awards with their idea.

Deli_cious was just one of 18 teams nationally to make it through to the finals held at the Barbican in London, with their idea of designing an app to calculate the exactly quantities of meat needed for a birthday party or a week of lunchboxes.

Although they did not win, the idea of creating an app is still their ambition.

The idea was sparked after Joe, aged 12, did not quite get the food he wanted, so the boys toyed with the idea of an app on which school meals could be ordered before deciding on the Deli_cious idea.

Kieran, also aged 12, from Bolton, said: “I am really proud of us getting to the final. Although we didn’t win, I want to be able to develop the app. I want to see it in the app store.”

Joe, also from Bolton, added: “I want us to go for the award again next year.” The pair already have ideas for new apps, including one based around learning.

Kieran said: “Computer coding is really important for young people today. We need to know about it to enable us to get good jobs.”

It is the second time Thornleigh Salesian pupils have entered the competition and got through to the finals.

Joe Santarcangelo, subject leader for computing at Thornleigh, said: “We’ve loved the chance to take part in the Apps for Good course and to be announced as a finalist is just brilliant.

“We’ve been able to develop not only our computing skills, but job skills such as teamwork, problem solving and independence.

He added: “The boys did really well and you could see other teams, some of which were sixth formers, being impressed by their presentation.

“They answered all the questions and, even though they didn’t win, they have access to resources to help them develop the app if they want.

“They were shortlisted from more than 500 entries and were up against older students and those from grammar schools.”