YOUNG students from East Lancashire gained a wealth of experience at a college’s engineering event last week.

Nelson and Colne College’s annual Engineering Because event introduced young people to the world of opportunities that exist within the engineering sector, through the form of a challenge.

Almost 200 pupils from 13 secondary schools in Pendle, Burnley, the Ribble Valley, Hyndburn, Blackburn with Darwen and North Yorkshire, were split into 46 groups, given a financial budget and told to construct a crane that could smoothly lift an item of cargo onto a ship.

Winners of the advanced category were students from St Christopher’s C of E High School in Accrington, while the top performing team in the intermediate category were from Bowland High School. First place in the foundation category went to St Wilfrid’s C of E Academy, Blackburn.

Oliver Whiteoak, 13, from Ribblesdale High School in Clitheroe, said: “I’ve really enjoyed the task. I would really like to come back and have a look at the engineering facilities at college.”