Ingenious Rayleigh youngsters put their skills to the test when they took part in a "battle of the buggies" competition.

Pupils from four schools in the town pitted their wits in the contest to design a rubber-band powered machine.

The competition staged at the Sweyne Park School in Sir Walter Raleigh Drive was held in aid of the national science, engineering and technology week.

Winners were picked in three categories including the best scientific work, artistic design and furthest overall distance travelled.

The youngsters spent two weeks making the model buggies in their spare time. Pupils from the Sweyne Park School won the distance category with the model travelling 32 metres.

The school entry will now go forward into the national competition.

Get set - David Klus, Kayleigh Fuller, Adam Ketley and David Hill prepare for the start

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.