PUPILS put their skills to the test and walked away with a cash prize.

On Wednesday, 6 March, five Year 8 girls from the Clere School, Burghclere, were invited to take part in an initiative by AWE, responsible for the design, manufacture and support of warheads for the UK's nuclear weapons, to encourage girls into engineering and other apprenticeships.

They took part in several tasks including a maths challenge, a circuit building test and a Robot Wars type of competition in which they had to burst the balloon of their opponents.

The Clere School pupils beat competition from Park House, The Willink and Testbourne schools.

The prize for the winners was a cheque for £500 and an engraved vase trophy.