YOUNG fans of Wallace and Gromit got the chance to make their very own Gromits — with tips from a professional model maker.

Children at Beaumont Primary School won the chance thanks to two bright sparks — who invented a marvellous machine that Wallace himself would be proud of.

Zayd Muhammed and Dastegir Sultan won first prize in a national competition, winning a visit from Jim Parkyn, a model maker from Aardman Animations, who showed excited youngsters how to make their own models.

Mr Parkyn staged two sessions with Year Six pupils.

Year Six teacher Nik Ghandi said: “The children loved the visit by Jim. He staged two workshops and spoke about how many models he had made. It is fantastic that two of our pupils won and the whole class were delighted to spend the day model making with such a world renowned animator.”

The Cracking Ideas competition invited young people to invent a new kitchen gadget, where money or technology was no object.

Mr Ghandi said the competition sparked lots of designs and creations with children working hard to create the best possible inventions.

Zayd and Dastegir, both aged 11, designed a multi-tasking machine which helps people complete tasks like cooking.

Their “Multzer Pro IV” was designed to be powered by solar panels to keep the environmental impact to a minimum. Zayd said: “We didn’t expect to win so it was a brilliant surprise when Mr Gandhi announced us as winners.

“We created the idea of a multi-tasking machine, keeping in mind that everybody is always rushing around nowadays.

“We had the idea of solar panels as global warming is an issue — so as a result we thought, why not create something that benefits the environment too?”

Valerie Fryer, headteacher, added: “We are delighted and proud that two of our Year Six pupils won this prize and they enjoyed working with the model makers of Wallace and Gromit.”