Talented pupils from a Harpenden school are one step closer to a science or engineering victory after winning places in the final of a UK competition.

Three pupils from Sir John Lawes School excelled in the heats of the National Science and Engineering Competition with two separate projects.

Toran Sharma and Kai Diep developed an interactive computing hardware project to be used in schools.

Using computing hardware such as Arduino Uno and Raspberry Pi, the duo created projects which would be interactive and easy to replicate by students.

While Fareea Ahmed’s project investigated the ways in which health professionals derive knowledge and understanding about nutrition and healthy eating.

She said: "The competition has taken me on an amazing journey and I’ve definitely got my sights set on the big prize whilst at The Big Bang Fair in Birmingham this March.

"The best and most important discoveries and inventions are down to science and engineering, and this contest has helped me to realise that I want to be a part of that in the future."

Toran, Kai and Fareea will now go head-to-head with students from across the country in an attempt to claim one of the UK’s most sought-after science and engineering honours for young people. The finals will take place at The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair in The NEC, Birmingham in March.