YOUNG people with designs on success have drawn up plans to engineer a bright future.

Sharples School teamed up with MP Stephen Metcalfe to launch the Year of Engineering in which the school hosted the REMAP Engineering Design Competition in which pupils were asked to design equipment to help those with disabilities do everyday tasks. They had to present their ideas in a dragon’s den style challenge.

Headteacher Ann Webster said: “We seek to promote STEM — science, technology, Engineering and maths — and this presented us with a fabulous opportunity. The design ideas presented by our students were fantastic; the judges were impressed by their creative thinking and their innovative solutions.”

Mr Metcalfe said his visit was a great start to the Year of Engineering, which would help address the skill shortage and inspire more into the field.

Mrs Webster said:”This was Mr Metcalfe’s first school visit in his role as Government Envoy for the Year of Engineering and he was delighted with what he saw.”

Pupil Maria Marsden-Price said: “It was great to think about solutions to the everyday problems which disabled people might encounter. I enjoyed seeing what ideas the other teams came up with too.”